1995 Ford WINDSTAR: complaints, problems and recalls

1995 FORD WINDSTAR WAS RECALLED FOR THE HEAD GASKETS, HAD DEALER FIX PROBLEM AND THE PROBLEM HAS RESURFACED.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000120 at NHTSA ↗

ENGINE 3.8 WAS REMANUFACTURED (68,500) UNDER RECALL AND NOW HAS SAME ISSUE, BLOWN HEAD GASKETS (125,200). FORD HAS ISSUED A TECH SERVICE BULLETIN IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS ON THIS. IT SEEMS THAT THE ISSUE WAS NOT ADEQUATELY FIXED ON THE FIRST RECALL, OR THE TSB WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ISSUED.

Owner-reported narrative. 125,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000128 at NHTSA ↗

FORD WINDSTAR - 1995 - THIRD HEAD GASKET REPAIR AT 116,000 MILES

Owner-reported narrative. 116,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000130 at NHTSA ↗

FORD WINDSTAR - 1995 - SECOND HEAD GASKET REPAIR AT 78,330 MILES

Owner-reported narrative. 78,330 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000131 at NHTSA ↗

FORD WINDSTAR - 1995 - ENGINE REPLACED DUE TO HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AT 67,749 MILES

Owner-reported narrative. 67,749 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000132 at NHTSA ↗

HEAD GASKET BLEW AND CAUSED TIMING BELT GASKET TO FAIL AS WELL. PER FORD RECALL IS ONLY FOR 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES AND THE VAN IS 7 YEARS AND 8 MONTHS OLD AND HAS 75,000 MILES. BROUGHT VAN TO DEALER @ 40,000 AND DEALER REFUSED TO CHECK GASKET AND INFORMED ME THAT ONCE IT GOES BAD, BRING IT IN AND WE WILL FIX IT AND NEVER MENTIONED ANYTHING ABOUT A TIME LIMIT. NOW DEALER AND FORD IS REFUSING TO FIX GASKETS AND THEY ARE ASKING $2,305 TO FIX PROBLEM THAT I BELIEVE SHOULD STILL BE COVERED.

Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000139 at NHTSA ↗

RE:1995 FORD WINDSTAR VIN [XXX] THIS COMPLAINT RELATES TO DAMAGE INCURRED JUST PRIOR TO AN OFFICIAL RECALL NOTICE FOR COLLAPSE OF THIS VEHICLE'S SUSPENSION SYSTEM AND FORD'S REFUSAL TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE DAMAGE INCURRED AND REPAIRS PERFORMED. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, CALLED FORD'S CUSTOMER CARE RECALL LINE, AND WRITTEN TO FORD'S CEO WITH NO RESPONSE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT FORD IS OBLIGATED TO PAY FOR ALL REPAIRS WHICH RESULTED FROM A SITUATION UNDER WHICH A RECALL IS DECLARED, EVEN IF THEY WERE INCURRED PRIOR TO THE RECALL …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000642 at NHTSA ↗

CYLINDAR HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON A 1995 WINDSTAR WITH LESS THAN 64,000 MILES

Owner-reported narrative. 63,999 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000733 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2002-04-04 (April 4, 2002)

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 ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. DURING ASSEMBLY, SOME BRAKE LINES WERE INSTALLED IN A TWISTED POSITION, CAUSING CONTACT WITH THE DASH PANEL INSULATOR ABOVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS CONTACT COULD ABRADE THE BRAKE LINE CORROSION PROTECTION, CONSEQUENTLY, SALT OR WATER ABSORBED IN THE DASH PANEL INSULATOR WOULD PROMOTE CORROSION. THIS CORROSION COULD ULTIMATELY LEAD TO A LEAK IN THE BRAKE LINE.

Consequence: LEAKAGE OF BRAKE FLUID WILL RESULT IN BRAKE LIGHT ACTIVATION. EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE COULD ALSO RESULT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: 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 NYLON COATED BRAKE LINE AND SECURED USING THREE RETAINING CLIPS TO ASSURE CLEARANCE FROM THE INSULATOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 10, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.

Reported: 2009-10-13 (October 13, 2009)

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 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.

Remedy: 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 CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

Reported: 1994-11-04 (November 4, 1994)

THE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION CAN ABRADE ON A BRACE THAT RUNS FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO THE COWL.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AND POSSIBLY A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 1994-11-04 (November 4, 1994)

THE ALTERNATOR OUTPUT WIRE WAS NOT CONNECTED TIGHTLY TO THE POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX.

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN OVERHEATING OF THE CONNECTION AND A POSSIBLE VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: 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, REPLACED.

Reported: 1997-10-20 (October 20, 1997)

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 PRODUCE ENOUGH PRESSURE TO FORCE THE OUTER PANEL UPWARD.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN TOTAL SEPARATION OF THE OUTER HOOD PANEL.

Remedy: 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 SEPARATION, ADDITIONAL ADHESIVE WILL BE APPLIED BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER HOOD PANELS.

Reported: 1999-11-02 (November 2, 1999)

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 ONLY), OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA AND TEXAS, CAN DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE FUEL TANK IN THE FORWARD STRAP AREA OF THE STANDARD 20 GALLON TANK DUE TO A COMBINATION OF FACTORS THAT ARE PRESENT IN CERTAIN VERY HOT AREAS OF THE COUNTRY.

Consequence: THESE CRACKS COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE IF THEY PROPAGATE THROUGH THE WALL OF THE TANK.

Remedy: 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 THE RESULT OF A CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK, THE TANK WILL BE REPLACED IN ADDITION TO THE INSTALLATION OF A SPACER AND LONGER STRAP.