Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1995 Ford Windstar, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling1,610
- Power train875
- Service brakes, hydraulic484
- Electrical system168
- Suspension145
- Fuel system, gasoline138
- Unknown or other131
- Vehicle speed control116
- Visibility104
- Structure99
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 120 injuries and 2 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1995 Ford Windstar failed the safety check 0.00% of the time — 100% less often than the average 1995 passenger car (1.29%). Median odometer at inspection: 132,074 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 13.3 L/100 km (about 18 mpg US), CO₂ 306 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windstar Wagon · Minivan · Regular gasoline | 15.3 | 10.7 | 13.3 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
6 Transport Canada recalls for the 1995 Ford Windstar.
| 2009292 14 Oct 2009 | Other On certain vehicles, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn, potentially resulting in an underhood fire. The condition may occur ei… |
| 2002066 5 Apr 2002 | Brakes On certain Windstars the crossover brake line above the catalytic converter may contact the dash panel insulator. The salt and water absorbed by the insulator m… |
| 1997183 22 Oct 1997 | Structure UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS THE BOND BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER HOOD PANELS CAN BEGIN TO SEPARATE. HIGHWAY DRIVING CAN CAUSE AIR TO ENTER BETWEEN THE INNER AND O… |
| 1995032 21 Feb 1995 | Seats And Restraints THE PASSENGER SIDE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (AIR BAG) MAY HAVE A CRACKED INFLATOR BODY. IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A DEPLOYMENT LEVEL CRASH, THE PASSENG… |
| 1994197 14 Dec 1994 | Electrical THE ALTERNATOR OUTPUT WIRE MAY NOT BE TIGHTLY CONNECTED TO THE POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX. THIS COULD RESULT IN OVERHEATING OF THE CONNECTION DUE TO HIGH ELECTRICAL… |
| 1994196 14 Dec 1994 | Electrical A BRACE THAT RUNS FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO THE COWL MAY CONTACT, AND IN SOME CASES, ABRADE INSULATION ON A WIRE HARNESS WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ELECTRICAL … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. DURING ASSEMBLY, SOME BRAKE LINES WERE INSTALLED IN A TWISTED POSITION, CAUSING CONTACT WITH THE DASH PANEL INSULATOR ABOVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS CONTACT COULD ABRADE THE BRAKE LINE CORROSION PROTECTION, CONSEQUENTLY, SALT OR WATER ABSORBED IN THE DASH PANEL INSULATOR WOULD PROMOTE CORROSION. THIS CORROSION COULD ULTIMATELY LEAD TO A LEAK IN THE BRAKE LINE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS WHICH WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING HOT WEATHER STATES: ALABAMA, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA (10 SOUTHERN COUNTIES), FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA (CLARK COUNTY ONLY), OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA AND TEXAS, CAN DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE FUEL TANK IN THE FORWARD STRAP AREA OF THE STANDARD 20 GALLON TANK DUE TO A COMBINATION OF FACTORS THAT ARE PRESENT IN CERTAIN VERY HOT AREAS OF THE COUNTRY.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS. TEARING OF THE BOND BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER HOOD PANELS DURING MINOR FRONT END COLLISIONS CAN RESULT IN A GAP AT THE LEADING EDGE OF THE HOOD. AIR FORCED BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER PANELS CAN PRODUCE ENOUGH PRESSURE TO FORCE THE OUTER PANEL UPWARD.
THE ALTERNATOR OUTPUT WIRE WAS NOT CONNECTED TIGHTLY TO THE POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX.
THE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION CAN ABRADE ON A BRACE THAT RUNS FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO THE COWL.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 1995 Ford Windstar: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637456 | SUBJECT REGARDING POWER STEERING LINE PART ORDERING INFORMATION. *TT |
| 636361 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT REAR DRUM BRAKES THAT DRAG OR WILL NOT RELEASE PROPERLY WHEN OPERATED IN WET CONDITIONS AND / OR BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES. *TT |
| 636312 | EXHIBITING INTERMITTENT ANTI-SKID BRAKE SYSTEM AND / OR RED BRAKE LAMP ON AT TIMES WHILE DRIVING. *TT |
| 635987 | GRUNT / POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION AT SPEEDS BELOW 20 MPH WHEN TURNING. *TT |
| 630515 | ENGINE OIL SYSTEM PRIMING PROCEDURES, SERVICE TIPS FOR REPORTS OF PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. *TT |
| 630001 | SOME ENGINE ASSEMBLIES WITH ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEADS REPAIRED IN-VEHILE HAVE BEEN FOUND TO LEAK COOLANT AND/OR OIL FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET AREA. *TT |
| 625888 | INFORMATION REGARDING ENGINE REPLACEMENTS WARRANTY EXTENSION PROGRAM. *YH |
| 625715 | BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK.*JB |
| 625687 | TRANSAXLE - AX4S - REPLACEMENT APPLICATION CHART - WINDSTAR VEHICLES ONLY. *NLM |
| 625034 | INFORMATION REGARDING REPLACEMENT APPLICATION CHART. *ET |
| 623988 | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 623944 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC |
| 622665 | ON SOME VEHICLES, ENGINE OIL MAY CONTINUE TO LEAK FROM THE ENGINE OIL PAN GASKET AREA AFTER AN ENGINE OIL PAN GASKET REPAIR HAS BEEN PERFORMED. *TT |
| 619462 | INFORMATION ON INDEXING ORANGE DOT ON TORQUE CONVERTER TO FLEXPLATE. *TT |
| 619293 | INFORMATION ON ADDITIONAL PARTS REQUIRED WHEN REPLACING TRANSFER CASE ON VEHICLES EQUIPPPED WITH AX4S TRANSAXLE. *TT |
| 619160 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT REAR DRUM BRAKES THAT DRAG OR WILL NOT RELEASE PROPERLY WHEN OPERATED IN WET CONDITIONS AND / OR BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES. *TT |
| 618535 | INFORMATION REGARDING PREMATURE FAILURE OF HEAD GASKETS. *JB |
| 616508 | SPECIAL FIELD ACTION REGARDING REVISED WARANTY INFORMATION. *TT |
| 615501 | SOME VEHICLES WITH 3.8L ENGINES MAY EXHIBIT A HESITATION ON ACCELERATION AFTER CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR (CMP) INSTALLATION. *TT |
| 615412 | CONCERNS WITH HESITATION ON ACCELERATION AFTER CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR (CMP) INSTALLATION. *TT |
| 613908 | CONCERNS WITH SUBFRAME CLUNK ON ACCELERATION / DECELERATION FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. *TT |
| 613867 | SUBJECT REGARDING CUSTOMERS WITH PRIOR AFTER WARRANTY ADJUSTMENT (AWA) HEAD GASKET REPAIR. *TT |
| 613763 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT REAR DRUM BRAKES THAT DRAG OR WILL NOT RELEASE PROPERLY WHEN OPERATED IN WET CONDITIONS AND / OR BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES. *TT |
| 613563 | IMPORTANT RECALL INFORMATION REGARDING VEHICLES THAT EXPERIENCE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET. *TT |
| 613395 | SOME HIGH MILEAGE VEHICLE MAY EXHIBIT A CUSTOMER CONCERN OF INOPERATIVE OVERDRIVE CANCEL LIGHT. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE FAILURE
FUEL TANK FATIGUE CRACKING
SUSPENSION COIL SPRING BREAKAGE
SUSPENSION COIL SPRING BREAKAGE
FUEL TANK CRACKS
FUEL TANK CRACKS
REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE
OUTER HOOD PANEL DETACHMENT
OUTER HOOD PANEL DETACHMENT
BRAKE PEDAL FADE/EXTENDED STOP DISTANCE
BRAKE PEDAL FADE/EXTENDED STOPPING
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation