1995 FORD WINDSTAR Power Train Problems

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.

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.

FORD WINDSTAR GL VAN 1995 IS TAKING EXTENDED DISTANCE TO STOP AFTER APPLICATION OF BRAKES. BRAKE PADS WERE CHANGED AND NEW ROTORS WERE INSTALLED STILL BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING AFTER THE SPEED OF 40MPH. NO LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD IS LIT TO INDICATE THE PROBLEM. *TR

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD MORE THAN IT'S SHARE OF PROBLEMS. THE HEAD GASKET WAS BROUGHT IN FOR A RECALL AND IT STILL MALFUNCTIONED.

TRANSMISSION- SHIFTING ROUGH SINCE 30,000 MI. 2 DEALERS TESTED OVER THE YEARS & SAID NO PROBLEM (JUST ADJUSTED SHIFT POINTS. SAME COMPLAINT IN JULY, 2003. DEALER CHECKED, SAID NO PROBLEM. 1 MONTH LATER HAD INDEPENDENT SHOP REBUILD TRANSMISSION. ENGINE- HEAD GASKETS REPLACED AT 15,000 MI & 35,00 MI. SAME SYMPTOMS NOW AT 103,000. JUST PAST EXTENDED WARRANTY

TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THIS IS THE 4TH TRANSMISSION IN THE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION THAT WILL BE INSTALLED WILL BE THE 5TH TRANSMISSION. FORD HAS CONTINUED TO INSIST THAT THERE IS NOT AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THE TRANMISSION IN THES MODEL ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN 634 COMPLAINTS/INVESTIGATIONS LODGED WITH THE NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND SAFETY BOARD.

I HAVE OWNED THIS VAN SINCE 1999. SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT. I HAVE HAD THE ROTORS TURNED, AND REPLACED AT LEAST 3 TIMES, AND THEY NEED IT AGAIN. I HAVE HAD THE HEAD GASKET REPLACED 3 TIMES AND ONE OF THEM TIMES WAS AT 99,000 MILES WHEN IT WAS UNDER THE WARRENTY. IT HAD BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST ONE TIME BEFORE THAT. MY SLIDING DOOR WON'T STAY CLOSED, EVEN THOUGH I JUST SPENT $300 GETTING A NEW LATCHED PUT ON. MY WINDOWS WON'T WORK. I HAD LARSON MOTORS FIX A HEAD GASKET AND MY ELECTRONIC WINDOWS, COST ME OVER $250 FOR THE WINDOW, THAT ONLY WORKED 2 TIMES. I CALLED, AND SINCE THEY PUT "MAY NOT BE THE PROBLEM" ON THE INVOICE, THEY THINK THAT CLEARS THEM, AND THEY WANTED ME TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON ANOTHER PART. MY SPEEDOMETOR HAS...

BRAKE WORK X2 TRANSMISSION X2 ALL BELTS TIRE & SUSPENSION WORK LUGS ON WHEELS NOT PROPERLY REPLACED ,IT ALMOST FELL OFF STILL PAYING ON VEHICLE WHILE IT SITS IN ASHLEY FORD PARKING LOT W/ DEAD TRANSMISSION I AM UNABLE TO PAY CLOSE TO $2000 FOR REPAIRS

MY 2 MAIN PROBLEMS ARE MY TRANSMISSION & TIMING GEAR COVER. THE TRANMISSION IS VERY HAZARDOUS. MINE IS SLIPPING BETWEEN 1ST & 2ND GEAR. I HAVE BEEN READING ON THE INTERNET THAT ON SOME OF THE TRANSMISSIONS THEY HAVE BEEN SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR. I SURE DON'T WANT TO HAVE THAT SURPRISE. I'M DISABLED & NEED MY VAN TO HAUL MY POWERCHAIR WITH ME WHEN I GO TO THE DOCTORS OFFICE. I WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I TALKED TO A MECHANIC & HE SAID IF IT GOES IT WILL LEAVE ME ON THE ROAD. I THINK THIS VAN IS VERY DANGEROUS ON THE ROAD. FORD KNOW THEY WERE HAVING HEAD GASKET & TRANSMISSION TROUBLE ON THE 1995 WINDSTAR WHY DON'T THEY TAKE CARE OF THERE PROBLEMS. THEY KNOW THEY HAD BAD GASKETS ON THE HEADS,TIMING CHAIN COVERS,& TRANSMISSIONS BUT THEY STILL WENT WITH THE CHEAPER GASKETS THAT LEAK. I...

THE ENGINE PROBLEM WAS THE INFAMOUS HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS OVER THE ARBITRARY 7 YEAR LIMIT, IT WAS FAR BELOW THE 100,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY LIMIT. IN MY OPINION, SETTING A TIME LIMIT IS DISCRIMINATORY AGAINST ANYONE WHO DRIVES FEWER MILES THAN AVERAGE. THE TRANSMMISSION PROBLEM APPEARED SUDDENLY. AFTER WAITING TO TURN LEFT, I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, BUT THE VEHICLE BEHAVED AS THOUGH IT WERE STUCK IN NEUTRAL. BY THE TIME I HAD A TRANSMMISSION EXPERT CHECK THE PROBLEM, IT WOULD NO LONGER SHIFT EITHER INTO REVERSE OR FIRST GEAR.

THE TRANSMISSION TORE UP IN OUR VAN AT THE END OF 2000 AND HAS FAILED AGAIN. WHEN IT TORE UP THE 1ST TIME, WE WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT SINCE WE ONLY HAD 60 DAYS LEFT THE COMPANY REFUSED TO PUT IN A NEW AND PUT IN A REBUILT. NOW WE HAVE TO FIX IT AGAIN. WE HAVE BEEN LUCKIER THAN ALOT OF CUSTOMERS THAT I'VE RESEARCHED, BUT WE ARE STILL GETTING A RAW DEAL WITH OUR VAN AND WE ARE VERY UNHAPPY! WE ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF ARGUING OUR MESSAGE TO THE FORD CO. BUT CAN TELL IT WILL BE A FAILURE ALSO. AND OUR HEAT QUIT THIS PAST WINTER AND NOW THE AIR IS OUT. WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS.

FORD WINDSTAR 95 SHIFT LEVER PRDNL DOES NOT MATCH GEAR. WHEN IN PARK CAR ROLLS HAVE TO FIND D OR R BY MOVING SHIFT LEVER. SOMETIME HAVE TO PUT LEVER IN TO PARK TWICE OR THREE TIMES BEFOR IT CATCHED AND CAR STARTS. WHEN THE CAR ROLLS BACK AND KILLS SOMEONE IT WILL GET FORDS ATTENTION. ALSO REPLACED HEAD GASKET ENGINE AND HEAD GASKET AGAIN. TRANNY SENSOR, DOOR AJAR SENSOR. WHAT A CAR MARK HERSHKOWITZ

CASE 1 MY FAMILY WAS COMING HOME FROM VACATION WHEN THE ENGINE BLEW WHILE WE WERE ON THE HIGHWAY. SMOKE CAME UP FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND WE WERE FORCE TO STOP THE VAN ON A CROWDED HIGHWAY. THANKS TO A NEARBY TRUCK DRIVER WHO STOPPED BEHIND US, WE WERE ABLE TO CALL SOMEONE AND GET TO SAFETY. IT TOOK A LOT OF NEGOTIATION FOR ME TO GET FORD TO TAKE CARE OF THIS MATTER, BUT THEY FINALLY DID. NOW AGAIN ON OUR RECENT TRIP TO GA ON 08-28-03 WHILE DRIVING HOME, OUR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND THE TRANSMISSION BLEW. TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED ALL OUT AND ON THE BACK OF OUR VAN TOO. IT ALSO STARTED SMOKING UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND FROM THE TAILPIPE. WE WERE INFORMED BY FREEDOM FORD IN NORFOLK VA THAT WE HAD TRANSMISSION FAILURE. OUR CHECK LIGHT HAS COME...

ON 6/13/2003, AT 57049 MILES, OUR 1995 WINDSTAR OVERHEATED AND SEEMED TO BE LOSING COOLANT SO WE TOOK IT TO ZIMMERMAN FORD, ST. CHARLES, IL TO BE CHECKED OUT. THEY REPORTED NO PROBLEM FOUND AND WE PAID $66.79 FOR A COOLING SYSTEM SERVICE AND LUBE SERVICE. ON OCTOBER 4TH,2003, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON OUR WINDSTAR WENT ON. WE TOOK IT TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP TO BE CHECKED. THEY CHARGED $111 FOR SBDS TESTS AND TOLD US WE HAD HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND QUOTED $2100 TO REPAIR. WE CONTACTED FIVE OTHER DEALERSHIPS IN THE CHICAGO AREA WHO QUOTED BETWEEN $900 AND $1600 TO DO THE JOB. OUR VAN IS CURRENTLY WITH FAMILY FORD OF WEST CHICAGO BEING FIXED. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD TO EXPECT A BILL OF ABOUT $1300. MOVING FROM ZIMMERMAN TO FAMILY FORD WAS NOT JUST A COST DECISION. ZIMMERMAN REFUSED POINT PLANK TO HELP US GET HELP...

HEATER CORE FAILURE THAT LED TO IMMEDIATE CYLINDER HEAD CRACKING THAT LED TO COOLANT ENTERING ENGINE OIL SYSTEM AND TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. TRANSMISSION FAILURE OF ORIGINAL AND REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. TOLD BY AUTO PARTS STORE EMPLOYEE ABOUT THE CYLINDER HEAD RECALL AS HIS SISTER OWNED SAME 1995 WINDSTAR 3.8L, FORD HAD A VENDOR ANSWERING CALLS. REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT FORD HAD MAILED RECALL INFORMATION TO THE WRONG ADDRESS, THAT IS WHY I NEVER RECIEVED IT. REP UNABLE TO EXPLAIN HOW FORD MAILED HOOD RECALL INFO TO CORRECT ADDRESS, BUT NOT THE CYLINDER HEAD RECALL INFO. REP REFUSED TO ADDRESS ISSUE FURTHER. I WOULD LOVE TO TAKER PART IN ANY CYLINDER HEAD OR TRANSMISSION CLASS ACTION PROCEEDING.

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE SPEEDOMETER INSTRUMENT DO NOT PROVIDE THE RIGHT SPEED, NEEDLE GO UP AND DOWN AFTER 45 MPH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATES AT 50 MPH. SECOND TIME I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE SPEEDOMETER.*AK

SPEEDOMETER WAS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. AT TIMES THE CONSUMER WILL NOT KNOW SPEED. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER REPLACED THE CABLE BUT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE SPEEDOMETER PINION GEAR. PER TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH INCORRECT SPEEDOMETER PINION GEAR. *YH

VEHICLE WOULD HAVE SEVERE SHAKING IN FRONT WHEELS WHEN SPEEDOMETER REACHES 50MPH AND ABOVE. CAN MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHEN VIBRATING. PROBLEM IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN VEHICLE IS LOADED DOWN OR GOING DOWN HILL. BEEN TO DEALERSHIP, AND INFORMED PROBLEM WAS NORMAL.*AK

THE SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATES WITHIN A 20- TO 30-MPH RANGE. IT WAS FIXED ONCE AND ALL THEY DID WAS REPLACE THE CABLE. THERE ARE NOW SAYING IT IS THE ENTIRE SPEEDOMETER. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS!. *AK

SPEEDOMETER WILL START TO BOUNCE FROM SPEED TO SPEED ONCE SPEED REACHS ABOUT 50 MPH. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER IS WILLING TO CHANGE PIECE, BUT WILL NOT COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE FLUCTUATES BACK AND FORTH. DRIVER IS NOT ABLE TO VERIFY CORRECT DRIVING SPEED. VAN HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. DEALERSHIP IS NOT ABLE TO KEEP THIS PART IS STOCK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

HAVE HAD TO REPLACE SPEEDOMETER TWICE AND STARTER TWICE WITHIN FIRST 58000 MILES. *AK

SPEEDOMETER HEAD AND CABLE FAILED. NLM

SPEEDOMETER WOULD BE THE THIRD ONE TO BE REPLACED, CAN'T TELL HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING

SPEEDOMETER HAS BEEN REPLACED ON THREE OCCASIONS. ALSO, SPEEDOMTER READING WAS NOT ACURATE. THE NEEDLE FLICKERED. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED PARTS. *AK

THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT REGISTER AT ANY SPEED, FIRST IT WAS ONLY AT HIGH SPEEDS, BUT NOW IT IS AT ANY SPEED. IT MAKES A LOUD RATTLING NOISE AS WELL. *AK

SPEEDOMETER HEAD FAILED. MJS

ODOMETER FAILED. MJS

ODOMETER FAILED. MJS

ODOMETER FAILED. MJS

SPEEDOMETER HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE BECAUSE OF THE INCORRECT SPEED INDICATIONS. PROBLEM EXISTS AGAIN. DEALER SAYS THE DEFECT IS NO LONGER WARRANTED. *ML

THE NEEDLE ON THE SPEEDOMETER JUMPS AROUND AFTER DRIVING 30MPH. DEALER HAS REPLACED SPEEDOMETER ONCE BEFORE. PROBLEM EXISTS AGAIN. *AK

WE PURCHASED THE VAN WITH 42,00 MILES ON IT. SINCE THEN THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS HAVE BEEN PREFORMED SINCE APRIL 1998: BRAKES AND ROTORS REPLACED, ROTORS WERE WARPPED BECAUSE OF HEAT, WE BOUGHT EXTENDED WARRANTY ON VAN TO COVER COST OF REPAIRS INCLUDING ELECTRICAL TO FIND OUT IT COVERS ZIP. A SENOR IS CONSIDERED A COMPUTER CHIP AND NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED, THEN AFTER THE 90 DAY WARRANTY WAS UP THE SENOR IN THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE DOOR SENORS ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE TURN SIGNAL/CURSE CONTROL SENOR HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON ABOUT AN AVERAGE OF EVERY TWO MONTHS IN THIS CAR AND IT COSTS US AT LEAST $180.00 EACH TIME TO HAVE IT FIXED. I JUST HAD THE VAN IN TO CHECK OUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND HAVE THE CAR SMOGED THE FIRST WEEK...

A LOCAL FORD DEALER HAS INFORMED ME THAT THIS VEHICLE NEEDS A HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT. I FIND IT UNACCEPTABLE THAT A HEAD GASKET FAILURE SHOULD BE EXPECTED AT ANY TIME, ESPECIALLY IN A VEHICLE THAT HAS NOT SEEN SEVERE DRIVING CONDITIONS. IN THE TWO YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE, VARIOUS DEALERS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT SOME ISSUES THAT WERE MERELY ANNOYING (SPEEDOMETER WAVERING AND JUMPING; WHISTLING SOUND COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT; REAR WIPER ARM BOOT FAILURE; BUILDUP OF SNOW/ICE ON FRONT WIPERS DURING SNOW). WITH THIS RECENT FAILURE (HEAD GASKETS), I AM CONVINCED THAT I HAVE PURCHASED A LEMON.

I HAVE ALSO EXPIRIENCED EMISSION PROBLEMS, ERRATIC SPEEDOMETER, BRAKES VIBRATING, CAR RATTLING, SLIDING RECALL.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER CONTACTED AND DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY. NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED WITH INCORRECT SPEEDOMETER GEAR. STOPPED BY STATE POLICE AND ISSUED A CITATION FOR SPEEDING AT 74MPH IN A 65MPH ZONE. MY SPEEDOMETER WAS READING 65MPH! I BELIEVE A INCORRECT SPEEDOMETER GEAR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION FAILING SINCE IT SEEMS THE SPEEDS SEEM THE SAME NOW AS WHEN I HAD THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION. I'M USED TO THE SAME SPEED YET THE SPEEDOMETER IS LOW BY ABOUT 10MPH! *AK

ROUGH IDLE AND ACCELERATION PROBLEM DUE TO FAULTY SPEEDOMETER CABLE ASSEMBLY.

AFTER REACHING 50MPH SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE STARTS JUMPING, NOT READING THE RIGHT SPEEDS. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

SPEEDOMETER ASSEMBLY FAILED.

WHENEVER DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 65MPH & ABOVE, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD JUMP AROUND. WOULD NOT GIVE CORRECT SPEED. IT CAN HAPPEN WHEN WEATHER IS COLD, OUTSIDE & INSIDE. HAS NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER. *AK

SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER HAS A TICKING NOISE WHEN DRIVING. DEALER CONTACTED, IN FOR REPAIRS FIVE TIMES. REPAIRS ON THE CABLE AND OTHER PARTS WERE DONE. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THE NOISE STILL EXISTS. *AK

SPEEDOMETER FAILED/RADIO FAILED SEVERAL TIMES,

SPEEDOMETER READS INACCURATELY.

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 36969 MILES.

TRANSMISSION FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON FAILURE.

TRANSMISSION FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON FAILURE.

TRANSMISSION FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON FAILURE.

TRANSMISSION FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON FAILURE.

SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED. *AK