1995 Ford Windstar Problems, Recalls & Reliability
4,799 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1995 Ford Windstar, alongside 8 recall campaigns and 14 defect investigations. It scores 100/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 83,028 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 1995 Ford Windstar sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 1997, 2004.
Avoid
Where 1995 sits among all Windstar years
What owners report
“Engine failure was due to blown head gasket,transmission has been serviced and vehicle well cared for.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1995 Windstar
“Transmission and head gasket sfailed at 48000 both replaced. Engine failure at 50,000 now waiting 8 weeks for replacement engine.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1995 Windstar
“Abs brake system, when brakes are applied pedal fades faster than vehicle stops. Tt”— owner report to NHTSA, 1995 Windstar
“Possible electrical failure causing abs, air bag, check engine, and brake light indicators to remain on. Mjs”— owner report to NHTSA, 1995 Windstar
“Engine - both head gaskets were replaced by dealer, then engine replaced, tranmission showed burnt fluid and was replaced 3 months following engine replacement, air conditioner failed to work 3 days after transmission replacement.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1995 Windstar
“Dealer refuses to perform recall repair (98v-184) related to the fuel tank crack. Nlm”— owner report to NHTSA, 1995 Windstar
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 311 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 99,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 75,000 and 130,141 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (8)
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…
Fix: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE…
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…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LINE FOR CORROSION AND CLEARANCE CONDITIONS. A BRAKE LINE THAT IS NOT CORRODED WILL BE REPOSITIONED. A BRAKE LINE THAT IS CORRODED OR LEAKING WILL BE REPLACED WITH A…
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1995-1998 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVANS. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS COULD POTENTIALLY FRACTURE DUE TO CORROSION.…
Fix: FORD IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY FOR FRONT COIL SPRING REPLACEMENT TO A TOTAL OF 10 YEARS OF SERVICE FROM THE WARRANTY START DATE, WITH UNLIMITED MILEAGE. THIS COVERAGE IS AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFERRED TO…
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…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BRACE ASSEMBLY AT THE STRAP BOLT HOLE LOCATION AND REPLACE THE TANK STRAP WITH A REVISED, LONGER STRAP. DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE TANKS FOR LEAKS. IF A LEAK EXISTS AND IS…
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…
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE HOOD AREA FOR ANY DAMAGE ALONG THE LEADING EDGE OF THE HOOD. IF THERE IS ANY EVIDENCE OF BOND SEPARATION, THE HOOD WILL BE REPLACED. IF THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF BOND…
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG HAS AN INFLATOR BODY THAT CRACKED DURING FORMING OF THE CURL THAT RETAINS THE IGNITER PLUG IN THE END OF THE INFLATOR. ALSO THE IGNITER END CAP CAN SEPARATE FROM THE INFLATOR.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE.
THE ALTERNATOR OUTPUT WIRE WAS NOT CONNECTED TIGHTLY TO THE POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND TIGHTEN THE CONNECTION. VEHICLES WITH VISIBLE DAMAGE TO THE PLASTIC POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX HOUSING WILL HAVE THE THE UNDERHOOD HARNESS, INCLUDING THE POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX,…
THE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION CAN ABRADE ON A BRACE THAT RUNS FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO THE COWL.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SHIELD ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO COWL BRACE, AND INSTALLATION OF A PIECE OF CONVOLUTE WRAP MATERIAL ON ONE OF THE ADJACENT HARNESSES.
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 09V399000.
Led to recall campaign 99V309000.
Led to recall campaign 01I007000.
Led to recall campaign 99V309000.
Led to recall campaign 97V180000.
Technical service bulletins
176 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on transmission & drivetrain and engine — are on file for the 1995 Ford Windstar. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 1995 Windstar TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1995 Ford Windstar reliable?
The 1995 Ford Windstar drew 4,799 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 100/100, scored against the model's worst year (1995).
What are the most common 1995 Ford Windstar problems?
The top reported problems for the 1995 Ford Windstar are engine (1,849 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (924), and brakes & stability (598).
At what mileage do 1995 Ford Windstar problems show up?
Owners most often report 1995 Ford Windstar problems around 99,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 75,000 and 130,141 miles.
Does the 1995 Ford Windstar have recalls?
8 recall campaigns apply to the 1995 Ford Windstar. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.