RoadVitals

1994 Ford Windstar

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
23
Latest May 21, 2010
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
2
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2

Overview

Our database contains 23 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 Ford Windstar, most frequently naming the engine, transmission and suspension categories. 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 9 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine832.0%
  • Transmission624.0%
  • Suspension312.0%
  • Powertrain (other)28.0%
  • Brakes28.0%
  • Other / unspecified14.0%
  • Body & structure14.0%
  • Airbags14.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA97018ClosedEngineering Analysis

OUTER HOOD PANEL DETACHMENT

Opened Sep 30, 1997
Closed Oct 22, 1997

There is no summary currently available

STRUCTURELed to recall 97V180000
PE97011ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

OUTER HOOD PANEL DETACHMENT

Opened Mar 13, 1997
Closed Sep 30, 1997

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION HAS RECEIVED 6 REPORTS INDICATING THE OUTER HOOD PANEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLES AS THEY WERE BEING DRIVEN.FORD HAS PROVIDE 39 ADDITIONAL REPORTS THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH ODI REPORTS.FORD INDICATES THAT THE LIKELY CAUSE IS PRIOR COLLISION DAMAGE.THIS INVESTIGATION IS BEING UPGRADED TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.

STRUCTURE

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 23
Suspension
Filed May 21, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 15 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD, UNUSUAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE SUSPENSION WAS CRACKED. THE TECHNICIAN MADE REPAIRS TO THE SUSPENSION ACCORDINGLY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 125,000.

NHTSA ID
10331545
Incident
May 5, 2010
Mileage
125,000 mi
BrakesEngineSuspension
Filed Mar 23, 2005

THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHY IT'S HAPPENING. ALSO, THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS ARE LEAKING. ALSO, THE BRAKE HOSES WERE REPLACED. OWNER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THESE BRAKE PROBLEMS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS BUT KNOW ONE CAN SEEM TO REPAIR THE PROBLEMS. *NM THE BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP AT TIMES. THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES A FEW TIMES. REFER TO RECALL CAMPAIGN #02V101000. WHEN THE VAN WAS STARTED FOR A 5TH OR 6TH TIME, IT WOULD SPUDDER/BUBBLE AND ON OCCASION, WOULD NOT START UP. THE SPARK PLUGS, PLUG WIRES AND EGR VALVE HAD BEEN REPLACED. THERE WERE ALSO ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE ALIGNMENT WHEEL PULLING TO THE RIGHT. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10111739
Incident
Feb 10, 2005
Mileage
143,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Apr 9, 2004

BAD STRESS POINTS WITH 4 TO 6 INCH FRACTURES IN THE METAL. (NAR) *PH FORD WINDSTARS MADE FROM 1994 - 2000. *CB

NHTSA ID
10066970
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Engine
Filed Jan 26, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

NHTSA ID
10055815
Incident
Jan 17, 2004
Mileage
114,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 24, 2002

WHEN VEHICLE IS AT A COMPLETE STOP OR IDLING AND GAS IS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE HESITATES TO ACCELERATE, THEN LAUNCHES FORWARD WHEN ACCELERATOR ENGAGES. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS IS A RESULT OF A FAULTY PISTON IN THE TRANSMISSION, AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL/YEAR VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

NHTSA ID
10001449
Mileage
40,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 10, 2002

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

NHTSA ID
8024130
Incident
Nov 20, 2002
Engine
Filed Sep 25, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD RUN ROUGH AND LOSES COOLANT WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH A BLOWN HEAD GASKETS ON THEIR 3.8L V6 ENGINE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM

NHTSA ID
8019438
Incident
Sep 9, 2002
Engine
Filed Aug 7, 2002
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL, RESULTING IN A COMPLETE SHUTDOWN. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID
8015730

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

16-0065

STRUCTURE

For 1999-2003 Windstar vehicles Safety Recall 11S16 has been issued for vehicles that are operated in high corrosion areas for an extended period, where a front subframe lower control arm (LCA) rear attaching flange or rear body mount could separate from the vehicle subframe. Separation of one LCA attachment or both rear body mounts may result in a loss of vehicle directional control, increasing the risk of a crash.

03181

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY (RKE) - SERVICE TIPS. *TT

00M09

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

INFORMATION REGARDING ENGINE REPLACEMENTS WARRANTY EXTENSION PROGRAM. *YH

12559

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)

CONCERNS WITH REVERSE CLUTCH THAT COULD BECOME SHEARED OR TORN IN EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES. *TT

98L20

SPECIAL FIELD ACTION REGARDING REVISED WARANTY INFORMATION. *TT

12178

POWER TRAIN

INFORMATION REGARDING TSB 98-5A-12 (TRANSAXLE/TRANSMISSION/TRANSFER CASE-VEHICLES TOWED BEHIND RECREATIONAL VEHICLES-RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES) DOES NOT LIST TOWING INFORMATION FOR CERTAIN MODEL VEHICLES. *MJS

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Ford Windstar by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2005100—
2004240034.0
20031,5109659.7
20021,3539662.2
20011,68616862.9
20001,67516862.1
19991,52213862.2
19981,433141063.1
19971926660.8
19961,38691362.8
19953,32681461.6
1994Viewing230241.6
1993110038.9
1992200—
1991300—
1990600—
1989000—
1988000—
1985500—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.