Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | |||
| 03/18/2004 | 49780 | 2 | 03/18/2004 |
| 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 | |||
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES - DOORS - LATCH | |||
| 01/19/2005 | 167900 | 1 | 05/07/1997 |
| Sliding side door on 1995 ford windstar came off the track and fell off the car.*ak | |||
| 02/21/2002 | 10 | 08/01/1999 | |
| 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 | |||
| 01/01/2000 | 1 | 06/01/1994 | |
| 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. | |||
| 07/28/1997 | 1 | ||
| The key would not work for any of the doors. *slc | |||
| 1 | 05/31/1997 | ||
| Sliding door latch failed. nlm | |||
| 10/19/1999 | 1 | 02/01/1995 | |
| Notified by ford sliding door latch, had it repaired. then front end doesn't stay in alignment, head gasket blew, causing loss of starter and other related parts, total cost of $1800.00 at this time the car only had around 50,000 miles. door light stays on indicating that a door is open when one isn't. sometimes goes on and off and beeps. interior lights stay on for extended period of time. heard on news about recalls and buy back, called ford, they tell me about 3 other recalls on the van,: head gaskets, hood separation, feul tank mounting (which will only replace or repair if they feel its necessary). i looked on the net and found that there is also an airbag problem on the passenger side. i was never notified of these and only recently became aware of them. i am in the process of trying to get a refund for the $1800.00 on the head gasket and related problems. i was told to go and speak to a mary flanagan at the sanders ford in jacksonville, nc where i live and purchased the vehicle. i would like to find out more information a out all these recalls and repairs that are needed and if the buy out program applies to my vehicle. i have 3 children and i am feeling very unsatisfied with safely transporting them in this vehicle. *ak | |||
| 02/01/1995 | |||
| The interior dome lights as well as the dashboard door ajar light and the door open chimes stay on even when all the doors are closed. i took it in to have it repaired and even after replacement of the sensors, it is still an intermittent problem. this same problem has been reported twice in the sj mercury news action line column.*ak | |||
| 03/11/1999 | 1 | 06/18/1998 | |
| Right front door latch (inside handle, lock motor and lock actuator) failed. mjs | |||
| 07/25/1997 | 1 | 06/01/1994 | |
| In addition to the transmission failure, there have been numerous electrical problems with the heating/ ac, door locks, wipers and door sensors. my windstar also had the defective head gasket which was part of a voluntary recall by ford. the transmission failure of this model is well known. additional anecdotal info can be obtained through the car trackers website on internet. the transmission failure on the 95 windstar is a known problem at ford, however no recall has ever been issued. | |||
| 03/18/1998 | |||
| While driving the windstar, the engine check light comes on, smoke comes from the tail pipe and windstar slows down and hardly accelerates. dealer states that there is a head gasket and transmission problem. *ak | |||
| 03/05/1993 | |||
| Door locks are difficult to open with the original keys. | |||
| 01/02/1997 | 1 | 08/01/1995 | |
| Driver's door latch popped open during accident. | |||
| 01/01/1994 | 1 | ||
| Sliding door latch failed on occasion. *tt | |||
| The structure door when locked you can unlock it with your hand . tt | |||
| 04/17/1995 | |||
| Passenger side door will not lock. tt | |||
| 03/09/1995 | |||
| The sensors for all the doors keeps going off that the doors are open and they are not open. please explain. tt | |||
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE - LOCK | |||
| 09/23/1999 | 1 | 06/01/1995 | |
| Head gasket went out. it was replaced with recall. rear hatch lock acuator broke not fixed yet. windshield washer works only after it is pushed repeatedly about 20 times, not fixed yet. i'm tird of spending money on a 4 year old $25000.00 car. | |||
| 09/01/1996 | 5 | 12/21/1994 | |
| Hatchback latch failed, causing door to open when secured, also replaced front brake rotors/pads/shoes, also transmission leaked oil and a/c compressor failed. *ak | |||
| 07/17/1995 | 7 | ||
| Hatchback latch will not catch unless hatchback is slammed. *sd | |||
| 09/01/1995 | 1 | ||
| Rear hatch lock failed. | |||
| 03/15/1995 | 1 | ||
| Hatchback latch failed. *ak | |||
| 03/09/1995 | |||
| The sensors for all the doors keeps going off that the doors are open and they are not open. please explain. tt | |||
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES - HOOD - LATCH | |||
| 09/01/2000 | |||
| While driving 65mph hood came off and hit windshield, causing $4000 damage. this was repaired under recall 97 v 180 000. *ak | |||
| While traveling hood flipped backwards, hiting windshield, and causing poor visibility. then vehicle flipped over. please provide further information. *ak | |||
| 09/22/1999 | 07/01/1998 | ||
| The check engine light was coming on anytime i drove on an trip over 60 miles. after having it checked out and checked out, i could never get an answer about the problem. found out later that it was due to the head gasket being bad and dumping engine coolant throug the exhaust which in turn destroyed the catatlytic converter and sensor. however the computer would never give the codes that this was the problem. while checking this problem out, i had it in a transmission shop that knew of ford's transmission problems, and stated that this windstar had all the signs of a leaking aluminum pump in the transmi. cost was just under $1000. still the problem was not fixed. a guy said to check the exhaust, so i had the exhaust checked and found the catalytic convertor had melted down. had them replaced, still the problem was not fixed. my mechanic happened to be talking to the parts dept at a ford dealer and they mentioned the secret recall on the motor. so i checked on it and they said the mileage was too high (keep in mind that the van was doing this when i purchased it at 82,000). my mechanic pulled the head off and replaced the front head gasket where the #4 cylinder had blown the gasket. he replaced all fluids. several hundred miles later the motors main bearings went out due to having had engine coolant mixed with it for so long (told to me by the springfield, il ford dealer where i was when the motor blew and by the springfield, mo ford dealer where i live). ford refuses to fix the problem and i can give you addresses of hundreds of other people who are having this problem, and this is just a group of people on the web, how many thousands of people don't know anything about this problem? ford claims to have sent out recalls, but i have never received one nor have any others that i have talked with except for one guy i work with. he bought his van used and received this recall. i have gotten a recall on my van hood so they know where i live. thanks, db. | |||
| 08/27/1997 | 1 | ||
| Without warning the vehicles hood sheared off the car causing the driver to loose control. | |||
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES - TAILGATE - LATCH | |||
| 04/01/1996 | 1 | 03/01/1995 | |
| Rear shocks failed at 3000 mi. a/c compressor relay failed summer of 1996 (hasn't work reliably since). tailgate lock motor failed, pass window motor faled, sliding door elec contacts replaced, head gaskets failed 3 times in 80000 mi. and many other problems that the dealers have fixed under warranty or service bulletins. how much will it take for ford to take responsibility for the 1995 lemon windstar !!! | |||
| 2 | 08/21/1995 | ||
| Tailgate lock failed, replacement failed also. mjs | |||
| 12/01/1996 | 1 | 07/16/1994 | |
| Tailgate would not open. | |||