Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1995 Ford Windstar submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 92 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 92, in the owner's own words
SMALL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT OUTSIDE OF THE LEFT FENDER, CAUSED BOTH AIR BAGS TO GO OFF. THIS BROKE THE REARVIEW MIRROR ON THE WINDSHIELD AND BOTH REAR WINDOW LATCHES TO BREAK THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE ABS LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND BRAKE FLUID WOULD LEAK. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WORKED INCONSISTENTLY. SHE DISCOVERED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH HAD MELTED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 152,000.
CRUISE CONTROL QUIT WORKING. ALSO AIR BAG BLEW WHEN CAR WAS IDLING AND NO ONE IN THE CAR FORTUNATELY. *TR
TOOK CARE OF TWO PATIENTS INJURED BY AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT OF 1995 FORD WINDSTAR VAN. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AFTER VEHICLE STRUCK A SMALL DOG. NO DAMAGE TO EXTERIOR OF VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THIS WAS AN INAPPROPRIATE DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS WHICH RESULTED IN INJURY. *JB
WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION THE PASSENGER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY FOLLOWED BY THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG. *BF ONE OCCUPANT SUSTAINED CUTS AND BRUISES ON HIS ARMS, THE OTHER OCCUPANT EXPERIENCED HEARING LOSS AND AN INNER EAR CONCUSSION. *NM
MY HUSBAND, MY SON, AND MYSELF WERE ON OUR WAY HOME LAST TUESDAY EVENING AND THE AIRBAGS ON OUR 1995 FORD WINDSTAR DEPLOYED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THIS WAS A VERY FREIGHTING AND STRESSFUL SITUATION. WE HAD JUST TURNED OFF ONE ROAD ONTO THE NEXT MAKING OUR WAY HOME WHEN THE AIRBAGS BURST OUT AND CAUSED SEVERAL INJURIES TO MY HUSBAND AND ME. MY HUSBAND HAS POWDER RESIDUE BURNS ON HIS FACE, HIS ARMS ARE CUT FROM THE WRIST UP. HE RECENTLY SUFFERED A STROKE AND THIS HAS CAUSED A LOT OF MENTAL STRESS AS WELL AS PAIN. X-RAYS ARE NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT HIS HAND IS NOT BROKEN. I HAD HEART SURGERY IN AUGUST AND DID NOT NEED THIS KIND OF SCARE. I HEAR AN ECHO IN MY RIGHT EAR NOW FROM THE LOUD EXPLOSION FROM THE AIRBAGS. I AM AFRAID TO RIDE IN ANY VEHICLE WITH FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAGS. I CALLED 9-1-1 TO FIND OUT IF AN OFFICER NEEDED TO COME AND INVESTIGATE AND TROOPER WILLIAMS TOLD ME THAT SINCE THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT THAT HE COULD NOT DO ANY TYPE OF REPORT. WE HAVE MANY WITNESSES THAT SAW OUR VAN AND THE EXTREME DAMAGE THAT IT DID TO THE HOOD RESULTING IN THE SIGNAL LIGHT FLYING OFF THE VAN WHICH WE STILL HAVE NOT FOUND AND THE HEADLIGHTS BARELY HANGING ON. THE HOOD IS BOWED UP FROM THE UNDER SIDE. WE HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND ALSO TOOK THE VAN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND HAD IT INSPECTED TO FIND OUT WHY THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHEN NO ACCIDENT HAPPENED. THEY ARE JUST AS PUZZLED. I NEED AN ANSWER AS TO WHY THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED LIKE THEY DID WHILE WE WERE DEPLOYING OUT OF THE BLUE. THE WINDSTAR IS OUR ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION AND I FEEL LIKE FORD NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT AND FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED. IF MY HUSBAND WOULD HAVE TAKEN HIS HANDS OF THE STEERING WHEEL, WE WOULD PROBABLY BE DEAD NOW. *JB
THE PAINT IS BLISTERING OFF THE HATCH AND SIDES IN LARGE PATCHES. THE AIRBAG LIGHT BLINKS AND THE POWER WINDOW ON THE DRIVER SIDE FAILS TO CLOSE ALL THE WAY AND STRUGGLES TO OPEN. THE REAR VENT WINDOWS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO .
WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG LIGHT FLICKERED ON, AND OFF. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING CAUSED THE PROBLEM.*AK
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HIT AND RUN COLLISION, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, WHICH CAUSED INJURY TO THE CONSUMER.*JB
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A 20-25 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK *SLC
RAN OVER RACCOON - BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PASSENGER AIRBAG CAUSED BRAIN INJURY TO OCCUPANT.*AK
AFTER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED THEY POPPED OUT AND CHEMICALS BURNED CONSUMER. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK
SPRING FAILURE IN AIRBAG. *AK
ENGINE DAMAGE FROM COOLENT. RECALL 95E006.002 ON 1995/ PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG; AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ALL THE TIME,STREERING WHEEL. *AK
ON 8/30/99 THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON AND STAYED ON. WE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER ON 9/15/99 WHO CHARGED US $150 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AS A DEFECTIVE FUSE MONITOR AND WAS GOING TO CHARGE US AN ADDITIONAL $200 TO INSTALL A NEW MONITOR. AIR BAGS HAVE NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED. THIS SEEMS TO ME TO BE A DEFECTIVE PART THAT SHOULD BE REPLACED FOR FREE. I DID NOT HAVE THE WORK DON AND AM TRYING TO FIND OUT IF THIS IS A REPAIR THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PAY FOR. *AK
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGES TO VEHICLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 55MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER MAINTAINED CONTROL OF VEHICLE, BUT VEERED OFF THE ROAD ONTO THE SHOULDER. ALSO, REAR TWO WINDOWS BLEW OUT/DASHBOARD CAME APART, AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAG CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED. DEALER CONTACTED, SAID VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK *ML
WHILE DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AT 5 MPH BOTH AIR BAGS DEPOLYED. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. NO INJURY WAS REPORTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE AIRBAG REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER, RECALL /MFR CAMPAIGN #95S06 ON OTHER 1995 WINDSTARS - BUT NOT MINE. *AK
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 ME TO PICK IT UP AND BRING IT BACK THE NEXT DAY. WHEN I PROTESTED, THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID IT WOULD NEED HEAD GASKETS. THEY SAID THE FORD REP WOULD BE OUT THE NEXT DAY AND THAT HE WOULD ALSO CONSIDER MY GAS TANK COMPLAINTS. ON THURSDAY, 4/27, THEY SAID THE WORK WOULD BE DONE "HOPEFULLY" BY 5/5. TODAY, 5/2, ONE WEEK AFTER DROPPING OFF THE VAN, THEY ARE TELLING ME I WON'T HAVE IT BACK UNTIL 5/12 OR 5/19 AT THE EARLIEST!!!! BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO BACKLOGGED WITH VEHICLES.???
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 VEHICLE STRUCK A DEER AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, HITTING CONSUMER AND HUSBAND IN THE FACES WITH AN OBJECT FROM AIR BAGS. *AK
NOTIFIED BY FORD SLIDING DOOR LATCH, HAD IT REPAIRED. THEN FRONT END DOESN'T STAY IN ALIGNMENT, HEAD GASKET BLEW, CAUSING LOSS OF STARTER AND OTHER RELATED PARTS, TOTAL COST OF $1800.00 AT THIS TIME THE CAR ONLY HAD AROUND 50,000 MILES. DOOR LIGHT STAYS ON INDICATING THAT A DOOR IS OPEN WHEN ONE ISN'T. SOMETIMES GOES ON AND OFF AND BEEPS. INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON FOR EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. HEARD ON NEWS ABOUT RECALLS AND BUY BACK, CALLED FORD, THEY TELL ME ABOUT 3 OTHER RECALLS ON THE VAN,: HEAD GASKETS, HOOD SEPARATION, FEUL TANK MOUNTING (WHICH WILL ONLY REPLACE OR REPAIR IF THEY FEEL ITS NECESSARY). I LOOKED ON THE NET AND FOUND THAT THERE IS ALSO AN AIRBAG PROBLEM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THESE AND ONLY RECENTLY BECAME AWARE OF THEM. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO GET A REFUND FOR THE $1800.00 ON THE HEAD GASKET AND RELATED PROBLEMS. I WAS TOLD TO GO AND SPEAK TO A MARY FLANAGAN AT THE SANDERS FORD IN JACKSONVILLE, NC WHERE I LIVE AND PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION A OUT ALL THESE RECALLS AND REPAIRS THAT ARE NEEDED AND IF THE BUY OUT PROGRAM APPLIES TO MY VEHICLE. I HAVE 3 CHILDREN AND I AM FEELING VERY UNSATISFIED WITH SAFELY TRANSPORTING THEM IN THIS VEHICLE. *AK
AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHEN VEHICLE HIT A DOG WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH, CAUSING DAMAGES TO FRONT BUMPER. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER STEPPED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP VEHICLE, BUT BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. CONSUMER TRIED TO AVOID REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE BY DRIVING VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. BUT WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
WHILE IN A FRONTAL CAR ACCIDENT SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. ALSO AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURY TO CONSUMER.PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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