1995 Ford Windstar Complaint Log

VEHICLE SOLD WITH NON WORKING AIR BAGS. (QCAW)

THE HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 45,000 MILES THE FIRST TIME AND THE HEAD GASKET BLEW AT 78,402 THE SECOND TIME. BOTH TIMES COOLER WAS DETECTED IN THE OIL. *AK

TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING HARD, IT CODED FOR INCORRECT GEAR ND TORQUE CONVERTER. TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 52000 MILES.

FRONT WHEEL CRACKED THROUGH DIAMETER OF METAL, POSSIBLE SAFETY PROBLEM WITH STRESS FATIGUE DUE TO OVERHEATING OF FRONT BRAKES OR JUST PLAIN CHEAP METAL. HAVE ANOTHER WINDSTAR AT WORK AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 2 FRONT WHEELS DUE TO SIMILAR METAL FATIGUE CRACKS. THAT IS 3 OF 8 WHEELS CRACKED WITHIN 50,000 MILES. VERY UNUSUAL DON'T YOU THINK. CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE TO NO AVAIL. WHEELS SHOULD BE RECALLED AS SAFETY PROBLEM. WHEELS DID MAKE NOISE INDICATING PROBLEM BEFORE REPLACEMENT.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE WHEN I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, FINALLY TRANSMISSION FAILED.

REARVIEW MIRROR KEEPS COMING OFF. HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, NO WARRANTY. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE IS AT STAND STILL IT WILL ROLL BACKWARDS, AND WHEN GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED VEHICLE RACES FORWARD. DEALER NOTED PROBLEM WAS FORWARD PISTON CLUTCH. *AK

TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION. WHEN VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP AND DRIVE DISENGAGES INTO WHAT FEELS LIKE NEUTRAL. I MUST ACCELERATE TO ENGAGE DRIVE AGAIN (WITH A JOLT). EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEMS WITH REVERSE FOR A WHILE, NOW ONLY WHEN ENGINE IS COOL. AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN A WHILE IT WILL NOT ENGAGE INTO REVERSE.

TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED.

TRANSMISSION FAILURE, BEGAN TO SLIP.

A LOUD FRONT END RUBBING SOUND WHEN YOU TURN WHEELS. THIS IS JUST ONE COMPLAINT MY FRIENDS WHO OWN THIS VAN YEARS 1995, 1996 AND 1997 ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. SOME HAVE TRIED TO HAVE IT FIXED AND HAVE NOT SUCCEEDED. OTHERS HAVE SIMPLY WAITED TO SEE IF IT WAS FIXED BY OTHERS. WE ALL HAVE HEARD OTHER VANS MAKE THE SAME NOISE WHEN THE WHEELS TURN AT A LOWER SPEED. NO MECHANIC HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM YET ON ANY OF THE VANS WE KNOW ABOUT. *AK

SEVERE SHAKING ON ACELERATION BETWEEN 35-60 MPH; FORD SERVICE DEPT. DETECTED SHAKING AS WELL, AND HANDED USBULLETIN FROM FORD- ARTICLE NO. 96-3-17 STATING DESIGN DEFECT AND DEFINING PROCEDURE TO REPLACE- AT COST OF $1,500 TO THE CUSTOMER. WE ARE WORRIEDABOUT THE SAFETY OF OURSELVES AND OUR TWO SMALL CHILDREN, AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS POSES ANY THREAT TO US- WHEN WE ASKED THE SERVICE REP, HE SAID HE "COULDN'T SAY". WE WROTE FORD CUSTOMER SVC, AND THEY PHONED TO SAY THEY FEEL THE CASE IS "CLOSED"- BUT IF WE WANTED TO PURSUE THINGS, TO CONTACT YOU. IFYOU WANT COPIES OF THE POWER BALANCE ANALYSIS DONE BY OUR FORD DEALER ON JUNE 23, 199 OR THE BULLETIN, WE WOULD BE GLAD TO FORWARD THEM TO YOU.

TRANSMISSION MAKES A THUNKING AND KNOCKING NOISE WHEN DRIVER PUTS VEHICLE IN ANY GEAR. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHIICLE WILL NOT GO FROM NEUTRAL TO REVERSE OR FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NO SUMMARY

WHILE DRIVING, WHEN STOPPING AT A LIGHT AND TAKING OFF AGAIN REACHING UP TO 25 MPH, THE WHEEL RIM FELL OFF, IT BOUNCED OFF AND HIT THE CAR WHEN IT BOUNCED BACK. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOSS POWER FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, THE RPM'S WOULD GO FROM APPROXIMATELY 2,000 TO 5,000, THERE WOULD BE A SURGE, POWER WOULD RETURN AND THE RPM'S WOULD RETURN TO 2,000.

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE, IT ROLLED BACKWARD CAUSING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF STRESS ON THE TRANSMISSION GEAR CABLE WHICH BROKE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO GEAR.

AIR CONDITIONER EVAPORATOR FAILED CAUSING LEAKAGE.

TRANSMISSION LEAKED FLUID FROM A SEAL CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO CATCH FIRE AND BURN.

TRANSMISSION AND ABS BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY.

BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED SPONTANEOUSLY ON A SMOOTH ROAD AND NO CRASH. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING THEIR SEAT BELTS BUT WER BRUISED, BURNED AND ABRASED.

BRAKES PADS WERE REPLACED AND THE ROTORS WERE TURNED. BRAKES OPERATED NORMALLY FOR APPROXIMATELY 4 MONTHS, THEN INTERMITTENT GRINDING NOISES WERE HEARD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR OF NOISE PROBLEM AND MECHANICS SAID EVERYTHING WAS WORKING PROPERLY AND THE NOISE WAS NORMAL. THE BRAKES THEN FAILED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE AN ABRUPT STOP AND A MAJOR CRASH OCCURED.

HEAD GASKET FAILRE.

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH THE DRIVER'S AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASSON, BREAKING THE FRONT WINDSHIELD'THE CONTROL ARMS AND THE MOUNTING BRACKETS FOR THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS. THE WINDSHIELD HAS BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE AIR BAGS HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. *AK

TORQUE CONVERTER CRACKED, CAUSING THE FRONT SEAL TO LEAK. WHEN DRIVING IT PUMPS OUT FLUID AT A FAST RATE. THE SPEED DRIVEN IS BETWEEN 55-65 MPH, THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OUT IN REFERENCE TO THIS DEFECT. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

MY VEHICLE OVERHEATED IN JUNE, 1998 AND I ADDED ADDITIONAL COOLANT. IN APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS, I RECEIVED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY NOTICE FROM FORD WHERE HEAD GASKETS ON MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE TYPE AND MAKE WERE FAILING PREMATURELY. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A LOCAL FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT (DELTA FORD, VICKSBURG, MS) ON 7/28/98 (INVOICE NUMBER 017128) AND THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND TOLD ME THE HEAD GASKET WAS STILL GOOD. MY VEHICLE CONTINUED TO REQUIRE COOLANT EVERY 2 - 3 MONTHS. THE PROBLEM RECENTLY HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE. I ADDED COOLANT TO IT ON 4/5/99 AND THEN AGAIN ON 4/17/99 - 368 MILES LATER. TODAY (4/17/99) MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IT DOES APPEAR THAT I HAVE A HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND ALL OF THIS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF DELTA FORD WOULD HAVE REPLACED THE FAULTY GASKET ON 7/28/98 WHILE THE REPAIR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. FORD SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THIS PROBLEM THAT CONSUMERS ARE EXPERIENCING. *AK

WE ARE HAVING TO PAY ABOUT $2100 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THERE IS A RECOGNIZED PROBLEM WITH THE 1995 WINDSTAR TRANSMISSION. (JUST REVIEW THE WEBSITES DEVOTED TO THE PROBLEM). THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD LAST FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR. I BELIEVE A RECALL SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.

ON TWO OCCASIONS FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE, CAUSING TIRE TO BLOWOUT. *AK THE DESIGN OF THE LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING HAS BROKEN TWICE, THE SPRING BROKE AND CUT THE TIRE, WHICH THEN BLEW OUT AT 70- 75 MPH.*JB

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF GEAR WHEN VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP AND WILL ABRUPTLY JUMP INTO GEAR WHEN ACCELERATION BEGINS.

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ABOUT 30-40MPH ON VACATION VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR, ANDE WAS ENGULFED WITH SMOKE. PULLED OVER AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. CONTACTED DEALER, AND HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED BUT IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED IN A PANIC STOP , THE PEDAL BECOMES SOFT AND ALMOST GOES TO THE FLOOR , RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

THE VEHICLE HAD A LEAK. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT ANTI-FREEZE WAS GETTING INTO THE OIL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEAD GASKETS. *NLM

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH THE TRANSMISSION DIED OUT AFTER MAKING CLUNKING NOISES. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AAMCO. WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD A MELTDOWN. *AK

BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, WITHOUT WARNING, WHEN DRIVER OF VEHICLE SWERVED TO AVOID HITTING A SMALL ANIMAL.

WHILE TRAVELING THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHILE APPLYING GAS PEDAL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

ABS BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT. QCAW

VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE IN REVERSE. WHEN REVERSE IS SELECTED THE MOTOR RACES AS ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED BUT NO REAR MOTION RESULTS. ALSO WHILE IN DRIVE THE TRANSMISSION MAY SLIP FROM ITS ENGAGED STATE LEAVING YOU WITH NO DRIVE POWER.

SENSOR ON TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR. DEALERS HAVE CORRECTED PROBLEM AT THE CONSUMERS EXPENSE. *AK *SLC

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT HEAD GASKETS ARE DAMAGE OR BLOWN IN LESS THAN 16 MONTHS DEALER AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT FIX PROBLEM MORE THAN ONCE EVEN WHEN THEY KNOW TAHT PROBLEM WILL HAPPEN MORE THAN ONCE

THE TRANSMISSION FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON FAILED. THE ORIGINAL PISTON WAS OF ALUMINUM CONSTRUCTION, AND THE REPLACEMENT IS OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION.

TRANSMISSION ALUMINUM PISTON CRACKED/COLLAPSED.

UPON STOPPING CAR JERKS AS IF STRUCK FROM REAR, UPON ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE, SECOND ACCELERATION ATTEMPT RESULTS IN VEHICLE JOLTING INTO GEAR WITH NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE. (QCAW)

ENGINE OVERHEATED DUE TO GASKET FAILURE. ENGINE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL. OWNER WAS MADE AWARE OF RECALL AT REPAIR SHOP; NEVER RECEIVED FORMAL NOTICE.

POOR MATERIALS CAUSED THE ALUMINUM PISTONS TO CRACK CAUSING THEM TO FAIL PREMATURLY.

TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS, WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP & TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT THIS WAS QUITE COMMON ON THE WINDSTAR TRANSMISSION AND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. THEY STATED AMONG OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS THAT THERE IS AN ALUMINIUM CYLINDER THAT ALWAYS GOES BAD AND THAT THEY ARE REPLACED WITH STEEL NOW. I ALSO HAVE TWO FRIENDS WITH WINDSTARS HAVING THE SAME TROUBLE. (PLUS I SEE MANY OTHERS ON THE WEB WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS!)

THESE PROBLEMS ARE COMMON WITH THESE VEHICLES. IS FORD MOTORS HELPING WITH ANY COSTS ON REPAIRS?

WHEN TRAVELING AND UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL INTERIOR LIGHTS/DOOR LIGHTS ILLUMNATE ON THE DASH. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS YET TO REPLACE PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

RECALL REPAIR DENIED FOR (98M01), HEAD GASKET FAILURE, VEHICLE OUT OF SCOPE DUE TO MILEAGE. MJS