1994 Ford Windstar Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1994 Ford Windstar, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine832.0%
- Transmission624.0%
- Suspension312.0%
- Powertrain (other)28.0%
- Brakes28.0%
- Other / unspecified14.0%
- Body & structure14.0%
- Airbags14.0%
- Seat belts14.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING OVER 35 MPH WITHOUT WARNING THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE WILL MOVE BACK AND FOURTH EXTREMELY FAST RESULTING IN THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE NOT TO REGISTER.*JB
WHEN GOING TO PARK INTO REVERSE CONSUMER WILL HEAR A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE ABS BRAKES DID NOT KICK IN . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
BAD STRESS POINTS WITH 4 TO 6 INCH FRACTURES IN THE METAL. (NAR) *PH FORD WINDSTARS MADE FROM 1994 - 2000. *CB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
PUSH THE BUTTON TO CLOSE THE SLIDING DOOR AND IT DIDN'T CLOSE ALL THE WAY. ANOTHER TIME, THE LIGHT CAME ON TO INDICATE DOOR AJAR, AND THE DOOR WAS AJAR WHILE DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER CHECKED THE DOOR AND REGREASED. THE SECOND TIME THEY ORDERED A PART. THE THIRD AT THE DEALER THEY READJUSTED THE DOOR. THE FOURTH TIME THE DOOR WAS REALIGNED. THE FIFTH TIME THEY PUT A NEW CONTROLLER.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, AND DRIVER'S SIDE/PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITHOUT REAR SEAT PASSENGERS' HEAD RESTRAINT SYSTEM. PROBABLE CAUSE: SEVERE HEAD OR NECK INJURIES UPON A CRASH. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .