FORD WINDSTAR · model year

1994 FORD WINDSTAR

25 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1994FORDWINDSTAR carries 25 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1994 WINDSTAR is power train:automatic transmission with 5 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (5) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 7 investigation files overlapping the 1994 WINDSTAR. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

25
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

25 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING1
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM1
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR1
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY1
POWER TRAIN1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION1
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
SUSPENSION1

Recent Complaints

20100521SUSPENSION:REAR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 15 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD, UNUSUAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE SUSPENSION WAS CRACKED. THE TECHNICIAN MADE REPAIRS TO THE SUSPENSION ACCORDINGLY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 125,000.

Mileage: 125,000

20050217ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHY IT'S HAPPENING. ALSO, THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS ARE LEAKING. ALSO, THE BRAKE HOSES WERE REPLACED. OWNER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THESE BRAKE PROBLEMS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS BUT KNOW ONE CAN SEEM TO REPAIR THE PROBLEMS. *NM THE BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP AT TIMES. THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES A FEW TIMES. REFER TO RECALL CAMPAIGN #02V101000. WHEN THE VAN WAS STARTED FOR A 5TH OR 6TH TIME, IT WOULD SPUDDER/BUBBLE AND ON OCCASION, WOULD NOT START UP. THE SPARK PLUGS, PLUG WIRES AND EGR VALVE HAD BEEN REPLACED. THERE WERE ALSO ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE ALIGNMENT WHEEL PULLING TO THE RIGHT. *SC *JB

Mileage: 143,000

20050217SUSPENSION

THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHY IT'S HAPPENING. ALSO, THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS ARE LEAKING. ALSO, THE BRAKE HOSES WERE REPLACED. OWNER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THESE BRAKE PROBLEMS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS BUT KNOW ONE CAN SEEM TO REPAIR THE PROBLEMS. *NM THE BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP AT TIMES. THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES A FEW TIMES. REFER TO RECALL CAMPAIGN #02V101000. WHEN THE VAN WAS STARTED FOR A 5TH OR 6TH TIME, IT WOULD SPUDDER/BUBBLE AND ON OCCASION, WOULD NOT START UP. THE SPARK PLUGS, PLUG WIRES AND EGR VALVE HAD BEEN REPLACED. THERE WERE ALSO ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE ALIGNMENT WHEEL PULLING TO THE RIGHT. *SC *JB

Mileage: 143,000

20050217SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

THE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHY IT'S HAPPENING. ALSO, THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS ARE LEAKING. ALSO, THE BRAKE HOSES WERE REPLACED. OWNER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THESE BRAKE PROBLEMS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS BUT KNOW ONE CAN SEEM TO REPAIR THE PROBLEMS. *NM THE BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP AT TIMES. THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES A FEW TIMES. REFER TO RECALL CAMPAIGN #02V101000. WHEN THE VAN WAS STARTED FOR A 5TH OR 6TH TIME, IT WOULD SPUDDER/BUBBLE AND ON OCCASION, WOULD NOT START UP. THE SPARK PLUGS, PLUG WIRES AND EGR VALVE HAD BEEN REPLACED. THERE WERE ALSO ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE ALIGNMENT WHEEL PULLING TO THE RIGHT. *SC *JB

Mileage: 143,000

20040802EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

BAD STRESS POINTS WITH 4 TO 6 INCH FRACTURES IN THE METAL. (NAR) *PH FORD WINDSTARS MADE FROM 1994 - 2000. *CB

20040126ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

Mileage: 114,000

20021224POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHEN VEHICLE IS AT A COMPLETE STOP OR IDLING AND GAS IS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE HESITATES TO ACCELERATE, THEN LAUNCHES FORWARD WHEN ACCELERATOR ENGAGES. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS IS A RESULT OF A FAULTY PISTON IN THE TRANSMISSION, AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL/YEAR VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

Mileage: 40,000

20021210POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

20020925ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD RUN ROUGH AND LOSES COOLANT WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH A BLOWN HEAD GASKETS ON THEIR 3.8L V6 ENGINE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM

20020807CrashENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL, RESULTING IN A COMPLETE SHUTDOWN. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

20020806ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CONSUMER RECEIVED SERVICE PROGRAM 00M09 REGARDING HEAD GASKET FAILURE, CONSUMER WENT TO A LOCAL DEALER STATING THAT NO FAILURES HAD OCCURRED AND DEALER STATED ACTION WAS NOT NECESSARY, HOWEVER NOW THE HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED FOR THE SERVICE PROGRAM, CONSUMER IS NOW LEFT HAVING TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *SLC

20020725POWER TRAIN

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING OVER 35 MPH WITHOUT WARNING THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE WILL MOVE BACK AND FOURTH EXTREMELY FAST RESULTING IN THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE NOT TO REGISTER.*JB

20020618ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

A BLOWN HEAD GASKET REOCCURRED AFTER REPAIRS WERE MADE FOUR YES AGO. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

20000714POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

WHEN GOING TO PARK INTO REVERSE CONSUMER WILL HEAR A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

20000705STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

PUSH THE BUTTON TO CLOSE THE SLIDING DOOR AND IT DIDN'T CLOSE ALL THE WAY. ANOTHER TIME, THE LIGHT CAME ON TO INDICATE DOOR AJAR, AND THE DOOR WAS AJAR WHILE DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER CHECKED THE DOOR AND REGREASED. THE SECOND TIME THEY ORDERED A PART. THE THIRD AT THE DEALER THEY READJUSTED THE DOOR. THE FOURTH TIME THE DOOR WAS REALIGNED. THE FIFTH TIME THEY PUT A NEW CONTROLLER.*AK

20000223ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE FAILED PREMATURELY. DEALER HAS NO REASON. *AK

19990729POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THIS FAILURE CAUSES VEHICLE TO LOSE DRIVE POWER AT INTERSECTIONS AND IS VERY UNSAFE, WHEN I CONTACTED FORD THEY SAID NO RECALL HAD BEEN ORDERED AND THEY WOULD DO NOTHING UNTIL A RECALL IS ORDERED. THIS IS EXTREMLY UNSAFE TO LOSE POWER IN AN INTERSECTION, FORD HAS REDESIGNED THIS PART ON LATER MODELS BECAUSE OF FAILURE BUT THEY ARE NOT REPLACING PARTS ALREADY INSTALLED ON EXISTING VEHICLES. THEY SAID IT WOULD TAKE AN ORDER FROM NHTSA WOULD YOU PLEASE CHECK THIS OUT AND ORDER A RECALL, WHILE I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT THIS FAULTLY CLUCTH IS UNSAFE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THANKS FOR YOUR CONCERN!

19990311CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, AND DRIVER'S SIDE/PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

19981125ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

THE GAS FUMES ENTER IN THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING HEALTH PROBLEMS. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

19971201SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT

VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITHOUT REAR SEAT PASSENGERS' HEAD RESTRAINT SYSTEM. PROBABLE CAUSE: SEVERE HEAD OR NECK INJURIES UPON A CRASH. *SLC

Compare 1994FORDWINDSTAR to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1994 FORD WINDSTAR have?
The 1994 FORD WINDSTAR has 25 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 FORD WINDSTAR?
The most-complained component for the 1994 FORD WINDSTAR is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 1994 FORD WINDSTAR safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.