1995 Ford Windstar GL from North America - Comments

Check Engine light on after 50 miles each trip.

Engine stalled causing wreck 94,500 miles.

Head gasket failed at 95,000 miles.

Engine replaced 95,000 miles.

Catalytic Converter's failed 114,000 miles.

Silicon tubes blew off EGR Exhaust pipe and burned the wiring harness and melted the plastic parts under hood causing a fire.

Rear lock motor failed.

Transmission "jerks" into and out of gear when it is shifting.

My 1995 Ford Windstar had no problems when I bought it, but it quickly developed some of the problems that Ford has designed into this Van.

The Check Engine light has always come on during trips, usually after about 2 hours or less of driving.

The engine started to act up at about 94,000 miles and died once as I was making a left at a stoplight. The oncoming truck did not have time to stop as it smashed into the rear of the Van.

Only 500 miles later the engine started blew the head gasket and was replaced by Ford for free.

Shortly after the engine was replaced the

Catalytic Converter stopped up (because of all the Anti-Freeze that came from the bad engine through the exhaust). I parked

The van for a year until Aftermarket Catalytic Converter's was available for it.

The stopped up Catalytic Converter's blew off the little silicon tubes that go to the Temperature Sensor for the E.G.R. valve, causing the Wiring harness and the plastic air intake to catch on fire.

Rear Door lock motor failed and I have replaced it.

This 1995 Ford Windstar GL is the last Ford I will ever own. I have been working on this van for the last 2 months trying to get it working again so I can sell it.

I will be so happy when it's not in my garage anymore. Good thing I'm a Mechanic

!!!

One last note... As a Mechanic I am telling you that Ford has designed this Van so poorly that when the Catalytic Converter's fail it WILL catch the Engine on fire!!! Just watch over the next year as all these vans with new engines start having the Catalytic Converter's stop up!! I just hope no one gets Killed by these Vans's...

Ford Windstars = Junk

1. 2 bad transmission$

2. Cracked Head Gasket$

3. Bad door sensor$

4. Bad window motor$

5. Engine surging - extremely dangerous.

6. Faulty management computers $

Fords response = Too Bad for you.

My response = Ford just made me a Nissian/Toyota shopper. I make it a habit to tell as many people I can daily how bad Ford is.

I have a '95 Windstar which has developed a loud knock, (similar to a rod knocking). My mechanic explained to me that it is very common for this make to incur this condition. He went on to explain that almost all Windstars he has repaired have a "lifter related" knocking that develops in the right-front cylinder (passenger-end/firewall-side). This requires either pulling the engine to repair @ a cost of $400.00 - $500.00 plus the diagnosis to determine if it's a lifter flattening out, a rocker arm bolt backing loose or a broken valve. The total cost is almost as much to fix as to purchase a rebuilt motor.

The problem seems, according to the mechanic, to be common in Ford Windstar vans with the V-6 motor. He feels it is a manufacturer's "built-in defect".

If I ever buy another van/truck it will surely not be manufactured in the USA! The Japanese made Toyota trucks routinely average over 250,000 miles with routine maintenance. My motto? "Go 'Yo"

Wow! Every story I read seems like a deja vu. Around 112K miles, we blew the head gasket, replaced the motor (not with a free replacement by Ford) and at 138K miles, I am calling it quits due to a quote from the dealer to replace the catalytic converter being in the thousands (ouch). Just bought a nice 2004 Toyota Siena LXE Ltd!

We have a 1997 Ford Windstar and like many of the other contributors to this site, we also will most likely never purchase another Ford minivan. We've had two Dodge Caravans and I don't feel we've had near the problems with them as with the Windstar. I will say, I found info on a Web Site that saved me several hundred dollars when the coil springs on my van broke and I discovered they were under a type of recall --- it was actually an extended warranty, but one I was not notified of because I was not the original purchaser of this vehicle. At this point we have the catalytic converter problem, but have also dealt with the check engine light coming on time after time after time. Like one reader we have not replaced the converter because of the cost --- no part for any vehicle should cost $1000 (unless it's the engine or something of that nature). Hopefully the part I found in the Auto Parts web page for around $300 will be something that can be put on our vehicle...it's not under warranty of course, but it's also not even completely paid for yet. When I get rid of it I will definitely be looking for anything, but a Ford.

I have a 1995 Ford Windstar GL and the first oxygen sensor was fixed and engine light stayed off for 1 day and then came back on again today.

My mechanic said that the back sensor may be bad as well.

I would like to know what would cause the sensors to go bad?

Does Ford realize that this problem with this model is going on and why will they not replace these vans when people buy them from people or the ford dealer since they made this mini in such poor condition.

My 95 Windstar is for sale; a nice van when I bought it, then the transmission went. Oh well, I fixed it. Then the computer; oh well, I fixed it. A little upset now but oh well, I fixed it. You could have hit me with a 2x4 when the head gasket went. $5062.00 and some change; you guessed it, a new motor. Ford of Canada were polite to hang up when I called. Never again will I buy a Ford anything. But hey! I have got one for sale. I wonder if Ford will buy it?

I purchased a 1995 Ford Windstar used in 1999 with 55, 000 miles on the engine. I am sorry to say this vehicle has costed me so much money that I think that those of us who are not rich and need a dependable vehicle to use for work should be re-imbursed for something. At 95,000 miles my engine had to be replaced. Shortly thereafter a new transmission. Now I had to replace practically the entire emission system. EGR valve, Catalytic converter, O2 sensors, muffler, EDTF sensor, new manifold gaskets etc. Needless to say after all of this the A/C condenser replaced and the check engine light will not go out. I am a female almost 60 years old and all the cars that I have owned none of them were this bad. Shame on the Ford Industry.