1995 Ford Windstar LX review from North America
"You couldn't GIVE me another Ford"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The air conditioning went at 70,000. Ford wanted to replace the compressor and the evaporator at the tune of $1200. I took it for a second opinion and found that the evaporator had a very small leak, so I have had Freon added on two different occasions at less than $20 each time.
The head gasket blew at 90,000. Ford did fix it under warranty. Luckily, my mechanic knew about the warranty and sent me on my way to the Ford dealership.
The ABS light stays on and has been on since 45,000. The ABS system still works, I refuse to pay $250 for a sensor.
The alternator and compressor was replaced at 100,000 miles.
It's in the shop right now with a check engine light, no air conditioning and raw fuel being blown through the engine. We suspect a stuck fuel injector.
General comments?
I am a very gentle driver. I take scrupulous care of my vehicles and I have owned Fords since I was 17 years old, I am now 44. I purchased the Windstar for the room and comfort of a mini-van and I owned a Dodge Caravan at one time. The problems with the Dodge were minimal and it was very comfortable. I should have bought another one instead of the Windstar. The cost in dollars of owning the Windstar is disturbing, but not as much as the un-reliability. I am a single mother with two children under 12 years old and my biggest fear is being stuck out on the road somewhere with them.
Recommended reviews
| Very poor engineering, quality and backing of product by Ford |
| When is motor/head gasket problem going to be addressed by Ford? |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Year of manufacture | 1995 |
| First year of ownership | 1998 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2002 |
| Engine and transmission | Don't Know |
| Performance marks | 5 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 2 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 4 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 2 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 34000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 125000 miles |
| Previous car | Honda Accord |
| Date of Entry | 4th September, 2002 |