Tl* the contact owns a 1995 ford windstar. While the vehicle was parked, the contact observed fuel leaking under the rear driver side tire. The contact noticed a visible crack in the fuel tank. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was previously repaired per the federal safety agency campaign number: 99v309000 (fuel system). The contact stated that the recall part that was supposed to be on the vehicle was not visible. The VIN was invalid. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.
Ford Windstar fuel leak problems
55 of the 14,140 owner complaints about the Ford Windstar describe fuel leak, most of them for the 1995 model year.
- owner complaints
- 55
- worst model year
- 1995
- typical mileage
- 110,000
Is there a fix? There are 2 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
Often reported together
Fuel smell 7Fuel pump 3Fire or smoke 3Overheating 1Fuel gauge 1Check engine light 1
What owners say
Just a few minutes after starting my 1999 windstar, it leaks fuel from the fittings (for the fuel lines) on top of the fuel pump. I am a mechanic and this is not suppose to happen. The fittings have a seam that has opened up because of a defect in workmanship. There is a strong odor of gas and a large puddle of gas under the vehicle. This is an obvious fire hazard. I believe ford got over on the federal safety agency and the american consumer. Typically the consumer will have the fuel pump replaced before their manufacturing flaw is discovered. Also, there was a recall on different year models and only in certain states. I don't see how "what state you live in" has to do with a split in plastic on the top of your gas tank. I will upload pictures of the flaws on the top of the gas tank fittings.
Tl* the contact owns a 1995 ford windstar. The contact stated that there were strong fuel fumes coming from outside and inside the vehicle. Upon further inspection, it was noticed that there was an intermittent fuel leak. The vehicle was taken to the authorized dealer a month ago and the contact was still waiting for the results of the diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 99v309000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 1995 ford windstar. The contact stated that gasoline fuel was leaking from under the vehicle. The failure was not diagnosed nor was the vehicle repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency recall campaign number: 99v309000 (fuel system, gasoline). The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.
Noticed fuel leak when returned after parking at slanted parking space. Inspection by licensed mechanic in columbus, ohio confirmed fuel tank leak. Removed tank for further investigation and found crack. Repaired by same mechanic. Total cost close to $300.00. Now no gasoline leak.
The vehicle had a fuel leak at the fuel tank. I removed the tank to see that the tank looked like it was pinched and developed a crack. The fuel tank is plastic so I found this to be odd. I had to put epoxy on the tank to patch the crack so I could get it home as I was out of town when this happened. When I got home I started looking online for a tank and found that ford had a recall on this matter. I called lafayette ford and explained the recall and gave my VIN #. I was told that my vehicle does not fall under the recall that I will have to repair it myself. If I have the same vehicle of the recall and the same problem of the recall why does ford not honor it. The recall states the crack at the front strap area and that ford will replace the tank and the strap with a longer one and a bushing. My tank has the crack at the front strap and the tank was pinched because the strap is too short.
Tl* the contact owns a 1995 ford windstar. The contact stated that the fuel tank was cracked and the vehicle was leaking fuel. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but offered no assistance because the vehicle was not included in the recall associated with the federal safety agency campaign id number 99v309000 (component: fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly). The vehicle did not reside in one of the states listed under the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 216,000. Updated 10/18/2011 *ln updated 10/26/11 *bf updated 3/29/12 *cn
1996 ford windstar fuel tank has a crack in it and is leaking fuel I see the recall only effaced 1995 windstars but apparently the problem was not fixed on the 1996 windstars because mine has a 3 inch crack in it. I do not know if some of the 1996 windstars were in this recall.
Tl*the contact owns a 1995 ford windstar. After the vehicle had been parked for five days, the contact noticed a large puddle underneath her vehicle near the fuel tank. She confirmed that the puddle was gasoline. The vehicle continued to leak fuel. The contact realized that she was experiencing the same failure mentioned in the federal safety agency campaign id number 99v309000 (fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly). She took the vehicle to the dealer and they stated that her VIN was not included in the recall because her vehicle was not registered in the states listed in the recall. Although the vehicle was not registered, the contact travels frequently in one of the designated states. The dealer advised her to have the vehicle repaired in the designated state. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 100,000.
On june 7 I was outside of our home and noticed I smelled gas near my wife's van. After inspecting I saw the tank was leaking fuel. I took the tank off and noticed there was pressure to the tank from the front strap. The pressure caused what appears to be a stress crack where the strap holds the tank. It appears to me the strap is too small for the tank. Ford refuses to fix this and would rather my wife and children ride around in a gas leaking danger machine. This vehicle has less than 95000 miles and I feel the same problem has occurred here as in the 1995 windstar.
Related recalls
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: mini vans. These vehicles may have incorrectly fuel line end forms which could result in a lower than specified pull apart force for the installed fuel line connection.
- Risk
- Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a redundant fuel line clip on the fuel supply and return line connections at the rear of the chassis fuel line bundle.
Recall number 00V164000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: minivans which were originally sold or currently registered in the following hot weather states: alabama, arizona, arkansas, california (10 southern counties), florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, nevada (clark county only), oklahoma, south carolina and texas, can develop cracks in the fuel tank in the forward strap area of the standard 20 gallon tank due to a combination of factors that are present in certain very hot areas of the country.
- Risk
- These cracks could result in fuel leakage if they propagate through the wall of the tank.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a brace assembly at the strap bolt hole location and replace the tank strap with a revised, longer strap. Dealers will also inspect the tanks for leaks. If a leak exists and is the result of a crack in the fuel tank, the tank will be replaced in addition to the installation of a spacer and longer strap.
Recall number 99V309000 · Recall details
Questions about the Ford Windstar fuel leak
Which Ford Windstar years have fuel leak problems?
The model years with the most reports are 1995 (29 complaints), 1996 (10 complaints) and 1998 (7 complaints).
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used Ford Windstar?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history