10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 8 / 4
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 10 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 45,730 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
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.
- Shreveport, LA, USA
While driving back from rome ga to cartersville ga my van made a funny noise and my speed dropped from 60 to 50 and then my back tires felt funny like I had run over something but I know I had not hit any thing so as I got closer to the exit then my ABS light came on. After I stopped at a station I checked my brake fluid but it was full, I checked my tires they where good because they are new. When I got home I had my breaks & plugs checked and they are good. I don't know what else to do. The ABS light is still on, while driving my van still lose speed on hills and level ground. Help me please this is my only way to get where I need to go.
- Adairsville, GA, USA
The contact owns a 1995 Ford Windstar. The contact was driving approximately 5 mph in the driveway. A sudden acceleration occurred without warning causing the vehicle to crash into the garage. There was no personal injury. A police report was filed for the incident. The current and failure mileages were 50,000.
- Aurora, IL, USA
Our 1995 Ford Windstar burned. The building in which it was parked also burned along with a 1990 pace arrow motor home, a 2008 harley davidson motorcycle $5000 dollars worth of lumber and several thousand dollars worth of miscellaneous material.
- Grandview, TN, USA
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.
- Oakdale, MN, USA
My husband turned on our 1995 Ford Windstar and noticed a brake light on. He left it running, opened the hood and was about to check the master cylinder when a fire erupted below the brake master cylinder (all he had done was open the hood). Updated 12/30/08 the consumer stated the vehicle had some electrical problems days prior. Updated 01/05/09.
- Escanaba, MI, USA
Cruise control quit working. Also air bag blew when car was idling and no one in the car fortunately.
- Northhome, MN, USA
After normal driving for about 5 miles, coming to a stop and starting again the accelerator on my 1995 Ford Windstar went to full on. Fortunately the area in front was clear and I managed to stop the vehicle with the brakes. Had there been a car in front or another obstacle there would have been a collision.
- Bellevue, WA, USA
1995 Ford Windstar van brake pressure switch caught fire. Occurred during fill up at gas station. I was able to extinguish the fire quickly as heavy blue smoke alerted me to the problem. Why wasn't this vehicle part of the recall for this same switch? my house could have burned down (garaged vehicle), as I understand the switch is electrically hot even with the car off!
- Middletown, PA, USA
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.
- Chicago, IL, USA
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.
- Russell, MA, USA
Vehicle suffered sudden acceleration at the speed of 50 mph. The engine raced at 4000 RPM. And there was gasoline coming from the tailpipe. Dealer notified. * mr dealer found that the throttle was stuck. However consumer declined repairs. He felt that an improperly installed mass air flow caused the engine to race at high rpms.
- Oxnard, CA, USA
When vehicle was at an idle, consumer put into gear and with feet still on the brakes vehicle suddenly accelerated. Consumer states that the problem still occurs, particularly in hot weather.
- Amesbury, MA, USA
While driving vehicle will start to shake and rev. Contacted dealer, and dealer could not find cause of problem.
- Saint Paul, MN, USA
Vehicle increased speed without the driver accelerating. Brake pedal was inoperable, and rpms were increasing. Driver was able to engage gear to neutral position to slow vehicle down and then engage gear to park position to get the vehicle to stop. Brakes were replaced the first week in March and transmission was replaced July 2001, after the first similar incident occurred.
- Tyler, TX, USA
Intermittently vehicle stalls out/ hesitates and dies when accelerating. Vehicle starts up immediately after stalling. Dealer has repaired vehicle several times; however, problem has not been corrected.
- Cranberry Township, PA, USA
At higher speeds and colder weather the electronic speed sensor will boost the speedometer's mph reading to 15 mph over actual. The result is that I no longer know my actual speed. In warmer weather when the sensor is functioning I may actually be going over the speed limit as I have learner to discount a 80 mph reading as 65 mph. The sensor is getting worse with age. At about 60,000 mph it was a minor nuiasance. Since it costs some $400 to replace Ford suggested I just live with the inconvience.
- Little Rock, AR, USA
Transmission being replaced for the second time. Started reporting problems at 10,000 miles. Dealer could not identify. (slugish, bucking, rough acceleration.) at 60,000 miles would not move out of park. Dealer replaced head gasket and made other adjustments (don't know what because they are all in code on repair slip) at 90,000 miles the transmission went. Motor mounts also had to be fixed. Problems with acceleration and bucking came less that 7,000 miles later. Second transmission went less than 20,000 miles later! also have had numerous problems with the ignition switch (replaced 3 times and still does not work right) and warning lights for the brakes and airbags. (no problems ever found) Ford dealer says transmission is not a recall item and there is nothing that they can do. I find this shocking in light of the nearly 4,000 complaints that the nhsta has logged for the 95 Windstar, (669 for transmissions!!!). Ford should be ashamed!
- Virginia Beach, VA, USA
No summary listed for above vehicle.
- Loveland, OH, USA
- Pharr, TX, USA