1995 Ford Windstar Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED TO THE DRIVE POSITION, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE DIFFICULTIES SHIFTING THE VEHICLE TO DIFFERENT GEARS. THE FAILURES RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IDLE AIR CONTROLLER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 245,000.

NHTSA ID

10786616

Incident

Oct 12, 2015

Mileage

245,000 mi

THE ENGINE FREEZES UP AND SHUT DOWN WHEN DRIVING. HAD TO CHANGE THE FUEL PUMP AND PUT IN A NEW AC COMPRESSOR.

NHTSA ID

10777831

Incident

Aug 29, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND RESTARTED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A WHINING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TWO TIMES AND EACH TIME THE ENGINE BELT AND TENSIONER PULLEY ASSEMBLY WERE REPLACED. THREE DAYS AFTER THE SECOND REPAIR WAS PERFORMED THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

NHTSA ID

10487435

Incident

Sep 20, 2012

Mileage

154,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED BLACK SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE AND THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN BURNING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF FUEL SINCE THE BLACK SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE. THE O2 SENSORS, SPARK PLUGS/WIRES, INTAKE GASKETS AND INTAKE ISOLATOR BOLTS WERE ALL REPLACED BY A CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO WORK ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 89000.

NHTSA ID

10360351

Incident

Aug 28, 2010

Mileage

89,000 mi

I HAVE A 95 FORD WINDSTAR (89K) LX3.8; DTC P0306.... GAVE RICH CONDITION, BLACK SMOKE OUT TAILPIPE, EXCESSIVE FUEL CONSUMPTION ... DON'T STAY RUNNING. SPENT MORE THAN $4,000 ON THE REPAIRS DIDN'T RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. - HAVE REPLACED ALL O2 SENSORS; - HAVE REPLACED SPARK PLUGS/ WIRES; - HAVE REPLACED STARTER/ BATTERY; - HAVE REPLACED ALL THE UPPER INTAKE GASKETS AND INTAKE ISOLATOR BOLTS; - HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL INJECTOR #6; - HAVE HAD REPLACED ALL WATER PUMP/GASKET, A/C AND TRANSMISSION TWO YEARS AGO STILL DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. NEED RUN THE COMPRESSION TEST FOR ANY MECHANIC ISSUES BUT DON'T HAVE THE TOOLS TO DO SO' FORD DON'T WANT HELP ANYTHING/REPAIRS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10359634

Incident

Sep 4, 2010

Mileage

89,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH SHE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE HAD RISEN; WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED IN THE VEHICLE CAUSING BLACK SMOKE TO FILL THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE NEXT MORNING, THE CONTACT HEARD AN EXPLOSION OUTSIDE OF HER HOME AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A SQUEALING SOUND MOMENTS BEFORE THE BRAKE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 140000.

NHTSA ID

10299846

Incident

Dec 16, 2009

Mileage

140,000 mi

MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR ENGINE HAS STOPPED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS AND ALSO WHEN COASTING WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILLS. IT ALSO STOPS WHILE AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. MECHANIC ADJUSTED THE IDLE SPEED AND REPLACED THE IDLE CONTROL. THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. THE REAL DANGER HERE IS THAT AT LOW SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES ALSO FAIL MAKING THE VEHICLE VERY HARD TO STEER AND STOP. ON A VERY TIGHT TURN I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10296193

Incident

Dec 1, 2008

Mileage

158,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING 45 MPH. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A MECHANIC ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE STARTER AND THE ALTERNATOR TWICE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER WILL MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 260,000.

NHTSA ID

10294366

Incident

Nov 11, 2008

Mileage

200,000 mi

MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR DEVELOPED A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN AT ALL DURING THE TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE LAST TIME IT WAS DRIVEN PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE CAR REPEATEDLY LOST POWER (DECELERATED, NEARLY TO A STOP) WHILE DRIVING ON AN UPHILL INCLINE. DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR WAS INEFFECTIVE DURING SUCH EPISODES. POWER RETURNED AND THE CAR WOULD ACCLERATE AND MAINTAIN A STEADY SPEED ONCE THE CAR RETURNED TO LEVEL GROUND. I HAD NOT USED THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM AT ALL DURING THAT LAST TRIP AND USED IT RARELY IN THE 12 YEARS THAT I OWNED THE CAR. THE FIRE COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE ENGINE AND ALL OTHER MAJOR SYSTEMS UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DAMAGED THE SURFACE OF MY DRIVEWAY AND A SMALL AREA OF MY LAWN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10288550

Incident

Sep 4, 2009

Mileage

170 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. THREE DAYS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED UP TO SEVEN TIMES PER DAY. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER RESIDENCE. SHE CALLED A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY INFORMED HER THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS DEFECTIVE. SHE REMOVED THE ALTERNATOR FROM THE VEHICLE AND TOOK IT TO THE SHOP TO HAVE IT TESTED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED HER THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS NO GOOD; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT PURCHASED A NEW ONE AND PLACED IT INTO THE VEHICLE. SHE WAS ABLE TO START THE ENGINE AND RUN THE VEHICLE, BUT IT STALLED ONCE AGAIN 4 BLOCKS LATER. SHE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, DROVE HOME, AND CALLED THE DEALER FROM WHERE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED. THEY REPLACED THE SENSOR, BUT IT STILL DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE REMAINS AT THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 126,000.

NHTSA ID

10227461

Incident

Apr 29, 2008

Mileage

126,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON APRIL 19, 2008, WHICH WAS THE PURCHASE DATE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LIGHT WOULD DIM AFTER FUEL WAS PLACED INTO THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER PLACED SENSORS AND NEW MOTOR MOUNTS ON THE ENGINE AND, AFTERWARDS, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE MORE THAN 25 MPH. DUE TO THE LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE, A MECHANIC AT A MUFFLER SHOP ADVISED HER THAT THERE WERE NO NEW MOTOR MOUNTS ON THE VEHICLE. IN FACT, THE MOTOR MOUNTS ON THE VEHICLE WERE OLD AND DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER HAS HAD THE VEHICLE SINCE MAY 1, 2008 AND STATED THAT NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS WILL BE MADE. THE DEALER ACCUSED THE CONTACT OF DAMAGING THE MOTOR MOUNTS AND ADDING 750 MILES SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. THE ESTIMATED FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ID

10226777

Incident

Apr 19, 2008

Mileage

135,000 mi

I PURCHASED A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR FROM A PRIVATE OWNER WHO REPORTED NO PROBLEMS WITH IT. AFTER OWNING IT FOR ABOUT 1 YEAR, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGHLY. SHORTLY AFTER, IT WOULD STALL OUT IF IDLING AND I NOTICED THE SMELL OF GASOLINE. I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS SHOOTING RAW FUEL OUT OF THE EXHAUST. I REPLACE THE COMPUTER MODULE, TWO BLOWN OPEN FUEL INJECTORS, THE SPARK PLUGS AND THE WIRES. THEY SAID THAT SHOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM. TWO MONTHS LATER THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE BE REPLACED ALONG WITH A NEW COMPUTER MODULE. I DONATED THE VEHICLE TO A GROUP LISTING ALL THE ITEMS THAT WERE RECOMMENDED TO BE FIXED. WE DO NOT MISS OUR "BLOW UP MOBILE". *TR

NHTSA ID

10197448

Incident

Jun 14, 2004

PURCHASED THE VAN USED IN 2004. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON. MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES, ALTHOUGH PERIODICALLY THEY MADE A NOISE AND WOULD STIFFEN UP, THEN THE PEDAL WOULD GO SLACK AND THEN RETURN TO NORMAL. THE MUFFLER FELL OFF AND WAS PUT BACK ON. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD BEEN ON, WHEN HOOKED UP TO THE COMPUTER IT ONLY SHOWED CODES FOR THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THEN IT STARTED OVERHEATING AND A BIT OF WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM THE TAILPIPE. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED. 2 DAYS LATER THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND THE VAN DIDN'T HAVE MUCH POWER AND WOULD STALL OUT WHILE EMITTING A THICK CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE FROM THE TAILPIPE. MECHANIC SAYS NOW THE HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10186529

Incident

Mar 9, 2007

Mileage

132,838 mi

MY WIFE WAS LEAVING CHURCH IN THE PARKING LOT, THE HEAD GASKET BLEW. HI. MY NAME IS [XXX]. I AM THE UNLUCKY OWNER OF A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. THE WINDSTAR HAS A FACTORY DEFECT IN THE HEAD GASKET MOUNTING, THAT CAUSES PREMATURE GASKET FAILURE(SERVICE BULLETIN #00M09). WELL MY WINDSTAR BLEW THE HEAD GASKET ON JANUARY 15TH, OF 2006. THE VAN ONLY HAS 76,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THIS, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR IT. I MADE 3 CONTACT ATTEMPTS TO RISER FORD, IN HOT SPRINGS, AND 2 CONTACT ATTEMPTS TO THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPT' AT FORD MOTOR CO. EACH TIME THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME. I INTENT TO TAKE THIS ALL THE WAY. I SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DEFECTIVE PART REPAIRS TO MY VEHICLE. *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10151720

Incident

Jan 15, 2006

Mileage

76,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE BLEW A HEAD GASKET. THE CONTACT NOTICED WHITE SMOKE AND WATER COMING FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BACK TO THE RESIDENCE WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THE #1 PLUG WAS FULL OF WATER AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. UPDATED 03/22/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10151297

Incident

Jan 15, 2006

Mileage

76,302 mi

MAIN ENGINE BEARING FAILED AT 96,000 MILES AND TOOK THE TRANSMISSION ALONG WITH IT. TOTAL COST WAS $12,000. SINCE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY; CUSTOMER PAID ONLY THE DEDUCTIBLE EXPENSE. ONLY THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS REPLACED. OTHER PARTS; HEAD GASKET, SPARK PLUGS ETC WERE NOT. WHICH EVENTUALLY LEAD TO THE FOLLOWING FAILURE: THE ENGINE AGAIN BLEW A HEAD GASKET AT 40,000 MILES. LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE, NO HEAT, WINDOW DEFROSTER FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY, COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATAL CRASH ETC. CUSTOMER FINALLY HAD TO JUNK 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. NO SATISFACTION FROM DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10149678

Incident

Mar 1, 2005

Mileage

96,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT OWNED A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON JUNE 3, 2005 AND THE ODOMETER READ 59,000 MILES. CONTACT RAN A CAR FAX REPORT, AND IN THE YEAR 2000 THE REPORT WAS SHOWING 100,300 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION, HEAD GASKET, AND FUEL INJECTION BROKE. SHE SPOKE WITH THE DEALERSHIP, AND STATED WHEN THEY SOLD THE VAN FOR SOMEONE ELSE THEY WOULD TRY TO GET CONTACT MONEY BACK. *AK

NHTSA ID

10131700

Incident

Jun 3, 2005

DT: TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO BE SERVICED IN FEBRUARY 2005. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER MOTOR MOUNT WAS BAD. THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS REPLACED. 3 DAYS LATER THE NEW MOTOR MOUNT FAILED. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND IT WAS REPLACED. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE AFTERWARDS, BUT CURRENTLY THE MOTOR MOUNT BROKE AGAIN. *AK FRONT MOTOR MOUNT HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT *NM

NHTSA ID

10124449

Incident

Feb 1, 2005

DEFECTIVE 1995 FORD WINDSTAR WITH RECURRENT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. *BF THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED SOON AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE KNOCK FOR THE 3RD TIME WHICH WAS DUE TO A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10115594

Incident

Mar 1, 2005

1995 FORD WINDSTAR-ENGINE OVERHEATED DUE TO DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. CYLINDER HEADS RESURFACED, NEW HEAD GASKETS, REPLACED DAMAGED CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS AND O2 SENSORS. TOTAL COST $2454.*AK

NHTSA ID

10110132

Incident

Nov 20, 2004

Mileage

84,918 mi

VEHICLE LOST POWER AND COMMENCED TO MAKE A HISSING NOISE WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC REPLACED TWO VACUUM HOSES THAT DISINTEGRATED FROM THE EXCESSIVE HEAT COMING FROM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10107155

Incident

Dec 9, 2004

Mileage

13,000 mi

NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. IT IS THE WORST CAR I HAVE EVER PURCHASED! AS SOON AS ONE REPAIR IS COMPLETED (TWO TRANSMISSIONS, HEAD GASKET, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, BRAKES, SUSPENSION), THEN ANOTHER ONE OCCURS. NOW, AS IN EVERY CHRISTMAS, THE "ENGINE LIGHT" IS ON AND THE CAR IS RUNNING SO POORLY THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN PULL THE CAR OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY WITHOUT IT CHOKING AND SPITTING, LOTS OF SMOKE, AND THE CAR IS ACTUALLY SHAKING!!! I KNOW IT IS ANOTHER HEAD GASKET AND I JUST CAN'T PAY ANYMORE MONEY INTO THIS PIECE OF GARBAGE. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A NEW CAR AND IT CERTAINLY WILL NOT BE A FORD!

NHTSA ID

10104453

Incident

Dec 24, 2004

Mileage

116,000 mi

HEAD GASKET FAILURE. TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT HAD BEEN RECALLED - I NEVER GOT A NOTICE AND AM NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. ESTIMATE OF $1800 TO REPLACE. READING OTHER POSTS, T APPEARS THIS IS NOT A DEFINITE PERMANENT SOLUTION. MY VAN ONLY HAS 97,000 MILES ON IT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10104256

Incident

Dec 21, 2004

Mileage

97,000 mi

1995 WINDSTAR WITH 3.8V6. HEAD GASKET LEAK. HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND CAME ACROSS SCORES OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE SEEN THAT MANY OF THESE ISSUE WERE REOLVED AT NO CHARGE BECAUSE IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I AM WONDERING IF THIS IS SO AND HOW DO I PRESENT THIS TO THE FORD REPAIR PEOPLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION SINCERELY, JAMES HAUGH. *AK

NHTSA ID

10090793

Incident

Aug 25, 2004

Mileage

65,000 mi

ENGINE OVERHEATED ONCE. MECHANIC SAID COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM TIMING CHAIN COVER. WHILE SAVING FOR REPAIR, HAVE KEPT COOLANT ADDED AND ENGINE HAS NOT OVERHEATED AGAIN, BUT NOW ENGINE SURGES WHILE IDLING, MISSES SOMETIMES, AND HAS LOW COMPRESSION IN THREE CYLINDERS. MECHANIC SAID ALL DUE TO COOLANT LEAK, AND ENGINE UNSAFE, MAY BLOW AT ANY TIME. DEALER SAID THERE WAS A FORD INFORMATION CAMPAIGN ON PROBLEM. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED. ONLY HAVE 69000 MILES ON VEHICLE, BUT FORD TOLD DEALER THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST IN REPAIR. PLEASE GIVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT PROBLEM TO HELP ME WHEN I CALL FORD MYSELF. THANK YOU!*AK

NHTSA ID

10090596

Incident

Jun 23, 2004

Mileage

67,000 mi