Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. 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. 78 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 78, in the owner's own words
2 YEARS AFTER VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW, THE DOOR CHIME WOULD NOT TURN OFF NOR THE DOME LIGHT. I STILL HAVE THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT INSPECTED AND WORKED ON OVER 10 TIMES AND NO ONE CAN FIX IT. *TR
SLIDING SIDE DOOR ON 1995 FORD WINDSTAR CAME OFF THE TRACK AND FELL OFF THE CAR.*AK
I ASKED THE SELLER AT FORD TO COMPLETELY SERVICE THE VAN BEFORE I WOULD BUY IT. HE SAID HIS MECHANIC WOULD. I CHECKED THE VAN OUT TWO WEEKS LATER, LOW ON OIL, NO BRAKE FLUID, TRANS FLUID VERY LOW, NO WATER HARDLY AT ALL IN RECEIVER, THEN THE STARTER WENT OUT, REPLACED IT NO GOOD, REPLACED SWITCH, NO GOOD, BRAKES GONE OUT, CAN'T KEEP FLUID IN SYSTEMS, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, EMISSION PROBLEMS, MECHANIC STALLS FOR THE HOUR AMOUNT, AND STILL CAN'T FIX/TEST II CODE. INSIDE LIGHTS DIM WHEN EXTRA. LIGHTS COME ON. IT'S A [XXX] PIECE OF JUNK AND THEY SOLD US A LEMON. I PAID OVER $4,000.00 CASH FOR IT, AND ALL THEY WANTED TO SO WAS SELL IT FOR MONEY. WHAT CAN I DO? IT HAS 72,000 ETC MILE AND NOW HAS 82,000. WE ARE BOTH DISABLED WITH TWO KIDS. WE HAVE BEEN SCREWED. I CAN GET THE FORD INFO ON THE FORD WINDSTAR 95 3.8 IT RATTLES, WATER RUNS OUT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE AND THE CONVERTER. I WANT TO SUE THEM, I CALLED THEM AND THEY SAID THE HELL WITH YOU, YOU BOUGHT IT AS IT WAS. FORD PRODUCTS ARE THE WORST AUTO'S ON THE MARKET. WE WANT REVENGE AND ALL OUR MONEY BACK NOW. [XXX]. WHAT IS NEXT A HEAD GASKET? I HEARD THAT COST OVER $1,600.00 TO FIX. AND THERE ARE ALOT OF THEM GOING OUT. FORD NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND IT'S PRODUCTS OR GET OUT OF THE BUSINESS. I HAVE HAD MY KIDS TOSSED TO THE DASH WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKES BEFORE WE EVEN GET OUT OF OUR DRIVE WAY. WE WEAR SEATBELTS, I WOULDN'T DARE RIDE IN IT. IT IS A DEATH TRAP TO ME.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
SPEEDOMETER INOPERABLE ABOVE 45 MPH (BOUNCES AND GRINDING NOISES); OUTER DOOR LOCKS INOPERABLE (EXCEPT DRIVERS DOOR), KEY ONLY OPENS DRIVERS DOOR; DOOR AJAR SENSOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON WHEN ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE DOOR AJAR DOME LIGHT COMES ON WITHOUT DOOR BEING OPENED. WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND DOME LIGHTS ILLUMINATES IT'S SO BRIGHT THAT THE REFLECTION OBSTRUCTS CONSUMER'S VISION. *PH THE INDICATOR LIGHT STAY ILLUMINATED AFTER THE REAR OR SIDE DOOR IS OPENED. THIS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY. *PH
OUR 1995 FORD WINDSTAR WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. WHEN HIT, THE DRIVERS SEAT AND THE PASSENGER SEAT BOTH RECLINED FROM THE IMPACT. ALSO, ONE OF THE REAR SEATS TWISTED ON ITS BASE. ALL THREE PASSENGERS SUFFERED SPINAL INJURIES.*AK
WHEN STARTING UP VEHICLE DOME LIGHT CONTINUALLY STAYS ON. DEALER HAD TO WAIT ALEAST 45 MINUTES BEFORE LIGHT WENT OFF.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL TURN ON AND STAY ON FOR 5-10 MINUTES. MECHANIC HAS SWITCHED THE WIRING; HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS.*AK
AFTER FIRST START IT TAKES 15 MINUTES BEFORE DASH LIGHTS AND POWER WINDOWS WORK. MECHANIC DETERMINED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT UNDER DASH.*AK
FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS THE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON. UPON CHECKING ALL DOOTRS NUMEROUS TIMES, NO PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND. IT FIRST STARTED WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. IT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AS TIME PASSES AND NOW DOES IT RANDOMLY. YESTERDAY, DURING A 6 MILE TRIP IT CAME ON APPROXIMATELY 6 TIMES AT RANDOM MOMENTS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH ANY PARTICULAR CHANGE IN SPEED OR DIRECTION. THE REPAIR MANUALS GIVE LITTLE TO NO INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SYSTEM OR ITS REPAIR.*AK
WE HAVE CONTACTED FORD NUMBEROUS TIMES AND DIDN'T SEEM CONCERNED. WE HAVE SO MUCH MONEY IN THIS VAN WE CAN'T GET RID OF THIS LEMON. NOW THE ENGINE LIGHT IS COMING ON. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON AND HAS RUINED BATTERIES. WE HAVE TO CHANGE BRAKES AT LEAST 3 TIMES A YEAR. NOW MY LOCKS START LOCKING W/O ANYONE PUSHING THE BUTTON. IT HAS BEEN REALLY A NIGHTMARE..
CONSUMER STATES THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS.*YD
ENTIRE FRONT PANEL (WITH AC/HEATER, RADIO, AND REAR WINDOW CONTROLS) BECOMES TOO HOT TO TOUCH, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVEN MORE THAN 60 MINUTES CONTINUOUSLY. ENGINE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF FOR MORE THAN 20 MINUTES. "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. REPAIR SHOP FOUND NO EXPOSED WIRES BUT WARNED OF FIRE RISK; HAD SEEN SAME PROBLEM IN OTHER MID-90'S WINDSTARS.*AK
THE ELECTRONIC SPEED SENSOR FAILED WHILE ON A TRIP IN JULY. THE VEHICLE SHIFTING POINTS ARE CONTROLLED BY THIS DEVICE. WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH THE VEHICLE DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER WENT TO " 0 " AND THE VEHICLE DOWN -SHIFTED TO ANOTHER GEAR ON ITS OWN WITH A LOST OF SPEED OF ABOUT 15 MPH. THIS WOULD HAPPEN INTERMITENTLY. ONE TIME WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT WITH A TRACTOR TRAILER . I WAS ACCELLERATING ONTO AN INTERSTATE AND INSTEAD OF THE VEHICLE ACCELERATING AS NORMAL . THE SENSOR SPEEDOMETER WENT TO "0" AND THE VEHICLE INSTEAD OF ACCELLERATING , ACTUALLY FELT THAT IT WAS TRYING TO DOWN -SHIFT TO FIRST GEAR ,WITH A SUBSTANTIAL LOSS OF POWER.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
ANTILOCK BRAKE LIGHT IGNITED ON TWO OCCASIONS, FILLING WITH BRAKE FLUID FIXED THIS PROBLEM. NOW THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHT INTERMITTANTLY COMES ON. WHEN LIGHT IS NOT ACTIVATED, THE ANTILOCK BRAKES ARE ACTIVATED WITH EVERY USE OF THE BRAKE, CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS. ONCE THE BRAKE GOES BEYOND THIS POINT, THE PEDAL WILL DEPRESS TO THE FLOOR AND PRESSURE WILL PUSH THE PEDAL BACK UP AND PULSATE. WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE BRAKES WILL MAKE A GRINDING SOUND FROM THE RIGHT FRONT. WHEN THE LIGHT IS IGNITED AND THE ANTILOCK BRAKES ARE NOT OPERATIONAL, THE BRAKES WORK NORMAL, BUT STILL GRIND WHEN A COMPLETE STOP IS MADE. THERE IS A WIRE AT THE STARTER CONNECTION THAT WORKS ITSELF LOOSE OCCASSIONALLY CAUSING THE ENGINE NOT TO START. WHEN THIS OCCURS YOU NEED TO JIGGLE THE WIRE AND TIGHTEN TO GET TO START. THIS PROBLEM HAD BEEN LOOKED AT AND SERVICED IN SEPT 2000, BUT STILL OCCURS APPROXIMATELY EVERY FOUR MONTHS. THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND DOME LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ACTIVATE. THIS SEEMS TO BE FALSE AS ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED. AGAIN, SOME PLAYING AROUND WITH CONNECTIONS SEEM TO FIX THIS PROBLEM ALSO. ALL PROBLEMS SEEM TO HAVE OCCURED AFTER THE VEHICLE REACHED 75,000 MILES. WE DO HAVE ACQUAINTANCES WHO ALSO OWN WINDSTARS OF THE SAME YEAR AND HAVE THE SAME ANTILOCK BRAKE PROBLEM.*AK
RECALL ON SLIDING DOOR - PROBLEM EVER SINCE REPAIRED. REAR WIPER MOTOR DIED THREE TIMES AND WAS REPLACED. RECALL ON HEAD GASKETS. SINCE FORD DEALER REPLACED THEM, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS BLEW, REPLACED THOSE AT OUR EXPENSE (APPROX. $1000), THEN THE FRONT WATER PUMP GASKET BLEW AND REPLACED THOSE AT OUR EXPENSE (APPROX. ANOTHER $500), THEN THE ENGINE BLEW AND WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE CAUSE WAS WATER AND ANTIFREEZE GOT INTO THE ENGINE AND SPUN THE BEARINGS.... TOLD BY THE PARTS MANAGER THAT IT ALL STARTED BACK WITH THE HEAD GASKETS. FORD IS NOT BACKING THEIR ENGINE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, WAS NOT TOLD THE FIRST TIME WE CAME IN THAT THE REPLACEMENT OF THE HEAD GASKET WOULD CAUSE MORE GASKETS TO BREAK UNTIL AFTER OUR SECOND RETURN TO THE SERVICE CENTER. SINCE THEN, WE AUTHORIZED THEM TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. FORD DOES NOT HAVE ANY ON THE SHELF BECAUSE THEY HAVE GONE THRU SO MANY OF THEM AND IT WOULD BE ANOTHER FOUR WEEKS WAITING PERIOD! MEANWHILE, WE WILL BE WIHTOUT A VEHICLE FOR TWO MONTHS AND IT WILL COST US ANOTHER $1,000.! AS FAR AS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WOULD MAKE A LOUD THUMPING SOUND WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED....HOWEVER, DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. THEREFORE, WE HAD TO PUT UP WITH THE LOUD SOUND, WHICH FRIGHTENED MY PASSENGERS AND MYSELF.
DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN THOUGH ALL DOORS ARE SHUT COMPLETELY. FORD DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD SHORT CIRCUIT WHILE DRIVING. ELECTRONIC DASHBOARD BLEW OUT. THIS CAUSED WINDOWS AND DOOR LOCKS NOT TO OPEN AFTER PULLING OVER. SMOKE WAS COMING INSIDE VEHICLE. ALSO, THERE WAS POOR VISIBILITY DUE TO ELECTRICAL FAILURE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOP SINCE SEPTEMBER , AND MECHANIC COULD NOT NOT GET INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PARTS FOR REPAIRS. INFORMED ON BACK ORDER. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER & INFORMED CASE WAS DOCUMENTED ONLY.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 65MPH HOOD CAME OFF AND HIT WINDSHIELD, CAUSING $4000 DAMAGE. THIS WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL 97 V 180 000. *AK
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ENGINE RELATED FAILURES, THE HEAD GASKET FAILED TWO TIMES, THE DEALER WOULD NOT COMPENSATE FOR THE SECOND FAILURE AND ALSO DID NOT OFFER THE CONSUMER THE $4000.00 CERTIFICATE TOWARDS A NEW VEHICLE, AFTER THE FIRST HEAD GASKET REPAIR, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LOSE COOLANT, THE ENGINE CYLINDERS WERE REPLACED, THE TIMING COVER WAS CRACKED, THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED, AND THE BLOWN GASKET CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT, SHAKE, AND SMOKE. *SLC
WAS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKET LEAKING ON 01 JAN 00. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO MECHANIC & INFORMED HEAD CONSUMER THAT GASKET WAS REPAIRED PREVIOUSLY. PROBLEM CAUSED ENGINE TO BE DAMAGED. MECHANIC INDICATED VEHICLE IS DRIVEABLE, BUT ENGINE WAS DYING & HAD OWNER DRIVE OFF LOT. RETURNED VEHICLE & ENGINE WAS REPLACED. NEW ENGINE STARTED TO HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. AIR CONDITIONER DID NOT WORK & DOME LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF.*AK
SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT WE WERE LUCKY VAN DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE.I NOW HAVE NO VEHICLE .SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATED THEY WILL KEEP THE VAN UNTIL THEY CAN MAKE IT SAFE TO DRIVE. ALSO THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED .I AM LOOKING AT A BILL OF AT LEAST 800.00 DOLLARS NOT FAIR I SAY!. *AK
FOR THE PAST YEAR HAVE HAD DOOR AJAR LIGHT GO ON, TRIED CLOSING ALL DOORS TILL IT SHUTS OFF. NOW THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF AT ALL, SO THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON--EVEN AFTER VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF WITH NO KEYS IN THE IGNITION. I LOCK UP VEHICLE FOR THE NIGHT AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WONT TURN OFF. I NOW HAD TO REMOVE SOME OF THE LIGHT BULBS HOPING THAT THE BATTERY IS NOT BEING DRAINED. WOULD LIKE SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM.*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.
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