1995 Ford Windstar: check engine light

Filed Oct 28, 2015 · Acceleration, Engine · 245,000 miles · LA

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.

Filed Jul 23, 2010 · Transmission · KS

Driving home from a 1hr trip turned in to a 3hr tip home.rpms going up to high and speed drops. Like pulling a big lode. Had what sounded like a winning or racing sound. No lights came on no shaking or ruff ride. Would be like this for a bit then run fine for a bit then do it agen.stopped checked fluids all fine.got home and ran to parts store put it on the read out.noted then od blinking but no cods for trans axel came up. But yet the book says that is a tran axel mal. They guy hit reset and the od stopped blinking. Put it in shop and they can not figure out what is wrong they got no cods. For the trans axsel.told me to come get it they spent to much time on it as it is. Ya 45mins. Out of one day.all they did was drive it and seen it was doing what I said.thats is to much time.but feels it has to be internal trans.$45 for that.now will have to take it to a ford dealer $80 for them to see what it is if they can and then fix what ever it is and god knows how much it will be to fix.I am sure I can not afford it.I am left with a car.this is messed up.fords are a mess.and people like me pay for it.I have had one prob.after another and have only had it for 2 years mom had it before that for about 6 years. She had the serves engine light come on and stay on for a long time but shop found nothing wrong. It went off one day don't even know when. It is now on again.

Filed May 6, 2008 · Engine · 135,000 miles · TN

Tl*the contact owns a 1995 ford windstar. The check engine light illuminated on april 19, 2008, which was the purchase date of the vehicle. The dealer stated that the light would dim after fuel was placed into the vehicle; however, the light remained illuminated. The dealer placed sensors and new motor mounts on the engine and, afterwards, the contact was unable to drive more than 25 MPH. Due to the loud noise from the engine, a mechanic at a muffler shop advised her that there were no new motor mounts on the vehicle. In fact, the motor mounts on the vehicle were old and defective. The dealer has had the vehicle since may 1, 2008 and stated that no additional repairs will be made. The dealer accused the contact of damaging the motor mounts and adding 750 miles since purchasing the vehicle. The vehicle has been at the dealer several times since it was purchased. The estimated failure mileage was 135,000.

Filed Mar 30, 2007 · Brakes, Engine · 132,838 miles · SC

Purchased the van used in 2004. A few weeks later the transmission had to be rebuilt. Shortly after that the brake lights came on. Mechanic could not find anything wrong with the brakes, although periodically they made a noise and would stiffen up, then the pedal would go slack and then return to normal. The muffler fell off and was put back on. The check engine light had been on, when hooked up to the computer it only showed codes for the exhaust system. Then it started overheating and a bit of white smoke came from the tailpipe. The intake manifold gasket was replaced. 2 days later the overdrive light started blinking and the van didn't have much power and would stall out while emitting a thick cloud of white smoke from the tailpipe. Mechanic says now the head gasket is blown.

Filed Jun 30, 2006 · Brakes · 104,832 miles · WV

Check engine light kept coming on our 1995 ford windstar van. Also, the anti brake lock system kept trying to incorrectly engage. When taken into the local ford dealer we were told that we had 3 bad sensors. Two brake sensor and 1 check engine sensor were faulty and would need replaced. We were told the worse case scenario was the brakes would wear out due to the anti lock mechanism trying to engage and the van my stall due to the other faulty sensor. We were also told these sensor are replaced often. We felt that 3 faulty sensors in one 11 year old van was excessive, especially after being informed that this is a common occurrence. This will cost us a total of around $300 to repair.

Filed Dec 24, 2004 · Brakes, Electrical · 116,000 miles · MO

Numerous problems with my 1995 ford windstar. It is the worst car I have ever purchased! As soon as one repair is completed (two transmissions, head gasket, electrical problems, brakes, suspension), then another one occurs. Now, as in every christmas, the "engine light" is on and the car is running so poorly that you can't even pull the car out of the driveway without it choking and spitting, lots of smoke, and the car is actually shaking!!! I know it is another head gasket and I just can't pay anymore money into this piece of garbage. I have been looking for a new car and it certainly will not be a ford!

Filed Jul 7, 2004 · Brakes, Electrical · 78,000 miles · NC · crash · 2 injuries

I asked the seller at ford to completely service the van before I would buy it. He said his mechanic would. I checked the van out two weeks later, low on oil, no brake fluid, trans fluid very low, no water hardly at all in receiver, then the starter went out, replaced it no good, replaced switch, no good, brakes gone out, can't keep fluid in systems, engine light came on, emission problems, mechanic stalls for the hour amount, and still can't fix/test ii code. Inside lights dim when extra. Lights come on. It's a [xxx] piece of junk and they sold us a lemon. I paid over $4,000.00 cash for it, and all they wanted to so was sell it for money. What can I do? It has 72,000 etc mile and now has 82,000. We are both disabled with two kids. We have been screwed. I can get the ford info on the ford windstar 95 3.8 it rattles, water runs out of the exhaust pipe and the converter. I want to sue them, I called them and they said the hell with you, you bought it as it was. Ford products are the worst auto's on the market. We want revenge and all our money back now. [xxx]. What is next a head gasket? I heard that cost over $1,600.00 to fix. And there are alot of them going out. Ford needs to stand behind it's products or get out of the business. I have had my kids tossed to the dash when I step on the brakes before we even get out of our drive way. We wear seatbelts, I wouldn't dare ride in it. It is a death trap to me.*ak information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Brakes, Engine · 76,000 miles · WA

The engine was the main problem due to the head gasket recall. In july,2000, we argued with ford about a bad engine running for which we had just paid over $300 to evaluate by an outside repair shop. After about 6 weeks we received our car back with a new long block paid for by ford, including a rental van for the time in the shop. In january 2001 the engine was running rough again and we were charged $81.45 to check it out and replace a wire bad on cylinder 6 which was misfiring. Three months later in april 2001 the car ran rough again and the engine light was back on (happened for years intermittently since we owned the car). The new long-block had another bad head gasket reinstalled per the second ford dealership service center. After nearly another month we had the second new long-block in less than one year. Now less than 2 years and 40,000 miles later, following the 110k service of radiator flush and oil change at 113,098 miles the engine rapidly lost oil and is misfiring and burning oil. Ford's position once again is that the warranty was only for 12 months or 12k miles. On a smaller note, the brakes have gone out numerous times and we have replaced rotors and pads numerous times with no improvements. The power steering has performed very poorly. We changed the fluid in 2000 and then the ford service center and they replaced the outer tie rods and reset the alignment. Within months it was going out again intermittently. Most often when starting out the power steering goes out and you must manually steer the vehicle.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Engine, Transmission · VA

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 numerous occasions and despite their action it still keeps coming on. In addition, our overdrive lights blink, our cruise control do not work, the door adjar lights stays on at times even when the doors all locked and causing the inside interiors lights to stay on, our gears do not shift properly and gets stuck between gears and upon acceleration it sometimes hesitates, repaired coolant leak from timing cover gasket and front crankshaft seal, coil ignition, the air condition when on makes these strange noises, etc. Replaced. We are very dissatisfied with ford windstars and have spent more money on repairs than what it was worth. We even still owe on the van. Ford needs to issue a recalll or a refund. This is not a safe vehicle to drive. Please keep me informed. Thanks and god bless.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Engine, Transmission · 61,576 miles · IL

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 from ford. Family ford have agreed to keep the faulty parts and help us in any way they can. We have contacted ford at several levels trying to persuade them that their 7 year / 100,000 extended warranty, plus the 6 year / 75,000 mile extended warranty that we purchased both imply that the head gasket should not have failed at 60,000 miles as ours did. We have also put forth the argument that the original extended warranty 5 year or 60,000 states or not whichever comes first so we feel we have a case to be covered under the terms of this warranty, given that we reported a possible problem at 57049 miles. Ford has said (several times by phone and e-mail)that they are unable to help as we are outside the terms of the extended warranty. They also say that they have very few complaints on this vehicle any more so they will not make an exception for me. I was told that they have made no exceptions outside the 7 year / 100,000 parameters. I feel that we have been penalized by ford because we have a low mileage on our vehicle and the poor engine construction on the 1995 windstar, in our case, still failed prematurely at 60,000.

Filed Aug 29, 2003 · Acceleration, Engine · 10 miles · VA

It's us again!!! On our vacation to ga, about 250 miles or less, our engine check light came on. We went to the nearest ford dealer in lumbngton, nc and had an engine diagnostic done. The ford dealer was said they fixed the problem. Codes p1150, p1151, and another code. However the engine check light came on again while in ga and then went off. I called the ford dealership back in nc and he stated that we should be okay and should make it back home safely. On our way back home the check engine came on again aroound nc-va and s no warning lights came on, nor did the engine overheat and it was driving okay. We decided to pull over at a rest stop and thats when the car hesitated to move and then smoke came out from the tailpipe and underneath the hood and leaked out all the transmission fluid including all over the back door and windows was greasy from the leak. . This is the second time something like this has happened to us while driving long distance. Thee vans are very unsafe to drive and ford needs to do a recall on these vans. We have put more money into this van then I can imagine in a lifetime. These incidents has also cause us unneccesary strain. In addition, our door ajar lights comes on, cruise control don't work, our gears do not shift correctly and gets stuck between gears, overdrive light starts blinking when we try to use it, the air conditioner makes strange noises when using it and driving,etc. It just does not work. I am very unsatisfied with this van and would appreciate a remedy and prompt solution. This is our only means of transportation and we still owe more than what the vehicle is worht. Please help us and contact me when you have receive this. Thanks and I look forward to something being done to take care of us ford windstars owners. We would also like reimbursement for our emergency expenses,tow charges to freedom ford from emporia, virginia. We also had our oil changed by freedom ford before we left and a 15 point multi inspection done.

Filed Aug 2, 2003 · Transmission · 130,140 miles · OH

While driving down the highway in akron ohio,I had the tac drop and the engine quit. It then came back on,(the engine). So stop at daughter to pick up sum furniture to take to dayton. As I was going down the interstate 71 toward columbus,ohio I got off the interstate and put fuel in the van. I contiune down the interstate at a reduce speedand the check engine light was on and I had I analized by autozone autopart store near my home said bank one running lean,then the van die all toghter,so I toe it to my home and brother and I took the belt off the engine and the pulley and vibation damper fell off of the engine. The vibation damper was sheared off from the engine.what would case this to do this?the cam shaft has the rest of the vibation damper still on it . What would cause this rebuilt engine to do this ?