Total Complaints
4799 filings
FORD WINDSTAR · model year
1995 FORD WINDSTAR
4799 NHTSA complaints, 179 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1995FORDWINDSTAR carries 4799 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 179 crashes, 66 fires, 170 injuries, and 2 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 1995 WINDSTAR is engine and engine cooling:engine with 1193 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (721) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (323). 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 1995 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.
4799
Complaints
179
Crashes
66
Fires
170
Injuries
2
Deaths
Crashes Reported
179 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1193 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 721 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 323 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 281 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 133 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 112 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 107 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 89 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 84 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 75 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 62 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS | 62 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 56 |
| POWER TRAIN | 54 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 53 |
Recent Complaints
20170621FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT OBSERVED FUEL LEAKING UNDER THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE CONTACT NOTICED A VISIBLE CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V309000 (FUEL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL PART THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE VEHICLE WAS NOT VISIBLE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 143,000.
Mileage: 143,000
20170202ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SPEED CONTROL DOES NOT ENGAGE. THERE IS SMELL OF GAS WITH TANK FULL AND STATIONARY . THIS VEHICLE NOT DRIVEN OFTEN SO MAYBE A MONTH BETWEEN OCCURRENCES.
Mileage: 155,000
20170202FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
SPEED CONTROL DOES NOT ENGAGE. THERE IS SMELL OF GAS WITH TANK FULL AND STATIONARY . THIS VEHICLE NOT DRIVEN OFTEN SO MAYBE A MONTH BETWEEN OCCURRENCES.
Mileage: 155,000
20170202VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SPEED CONTROL DOES NOT ENGAGE. THERE IS SMELL OF GAS WITH TANK FULL AND STATIONARY . THIS VEHICLE NOT DRIVEN OFTEN SO MAYBE A MONTH BETWEEN OCCURRENCES.
Mileage: 155,000
20151109CrashAIR BAGS
SMALL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT OUTSIDE OF THE LEFT FENDER, CAUSED BOTH AIR BAGS TO GO OFF. THIS BROKE THE REARVIEW MIRROR ON THE WINDSHIELD AND BOTH REAR WINDOW LATCHES TO BREAK THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.
20151030POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE REAR AXLE SHIFTED AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Mileage: 50,000
20151028ENGINE
TL* 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.
Mileage: 245,000
20151028POWER TRAIN
TL* 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.
Mileage: 245,000
20151028VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* 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.
Mileage: 245,000
20150929ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT COMPLAINED OF A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FUSE BOX BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
20150926ENGINE
THE ENGINE FREEZES UP AND SHUT DOWN WHEN DRIVING. HAD TO CHANGE THE FUEL PUMP AND PUT IN A NEW AC COMPRESSOR.
20150926FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE ENGINE FREEZES UP AND SHUT DOWN WHEN DRIVING. HAD TO CHANGE THE FUEL PUMP AND PUT IN A NEW AC COMPRESSOR.
20150926VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE ENGINE FREEZES UP AND SHUT DOWN WHEN DRIVING. HAD TO CHANGE THE FUEL PUMP AND PUT IN A NEW AC COMPRESSOR.
20150220FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE STRONG FUEL FUMES COMING FROM OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER A MONTH AGO AND THE CONTACT WAS STILL WAITING FOR THE RESULTS OF THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V309000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
20140813FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT GASOLINE FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V309000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Mileage: 110,000
20140512SERVICE BRAKES
THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINS ON TO THIS DAY. *TR
Mileage: 248,313
20130424FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
AFTER RELOCATING TO GA, BEGAN EXPERIENCING STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. ODOR WAS STRONGEST AFTER TANK FILLED. SHORTLY THEREAFTER BEGAN FINDING WET STAINS ON GROUND ON LEFT SIDE OF VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION FOUND GASOLINE LEAKING FROM GAS TANK ON DRIVERS SIDE FROM A CRACK IN TANK IN VICINITY OF FORWARD GAS TANK STRAP.AFTER EXHAUSTIVE RESEARCH FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES FOR THIS PROBLEM.VEHICLE WAS REGISTERED WITH FORD ON ITS WEB SITE AND SHOWS NO RECALLS BY VIN#. ALSO INFORMED BY ATHENS FORD THAT THERE WERE NO REPLACEMENT TANKS AVAILABLE ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY. HAVE BEEN TEMPORARILY SEALING LEAKS AND KEEPING VERY LITTLE FUEL IN THE TANK. ALSO FOUND NO AFTERMARKET TANKS AVAILABLE FOR THIS VEHICLE.HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED BY FORD AS OF YET OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE SERVICED IT SINCE ITS PURCHASE IN PA, UNTIL IT ARRIVED IN GA. *TR
Mileage: 98,000
20130325SERVICE BRAKES
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. *TR
Mileage: 2,769,160
20130325WHEELS
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. *TR
Mileage: 2,769,160
20130325VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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. *TR
Mileage: 2,769,160
Compare 1995FORDWINDSTAR to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
EA10007Engineering AnalysisClosed
Front Subframe Corrosion Failures
DP10005Defect PetitionClosed
Rear Axle Fracture Recall Scope
PE10026Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Front Subframe Corrosion Failures
PE10016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Rear Axle Cracking
PE08035Preliminary EvaluationClosed
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1995 FORD WINDSTAR have?▼
The 1995 FORD WINDSTAR has 4799 NHTSA complaints, 179 crashes, 66 fires, 170 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1995 FORD WINDSTAR?▼
The most-complained component for the 1995 FORD WINDSTAR is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE with 1193 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1995 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.