Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (air conditioning, heater, defroster, HVAC controls).
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1995 Ford Windstar owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I have had several different problems with my '95 Windstar since I bought it used in jan of 1997. The scary thing is I don't know what all has already been replaced on it , but here is my list head gaskets replaced, speedometer replaced & is now making noise again, rear heat and air repaired,trouble with ignition switch, steering is making noises hopefully this isn't a problem with the suspension spring you are already investigating, bells are rining all the time, door adjar light stays on periodically causing interior lights to stay on so you can't drive at night and your battery goes dead.most recently my transmission is giving me problems, it goes out of gear at a stop and then slams into it hard when you try to go forward also shifts hard from 1st to 2nd. This is very dangerous when entering a busy intersection or street. …
Currently our vehicle is awaiting a new engine after having the head gasket replaced on a recall notice from Ford last October. While we have an extended warranty on this vehicle, we feel it is not fair they should have to provide replacement in light of other similar complaints about the same problem on other Ford windstars. This vehicle only has 34,489 miles on it. We have had transmission concerns about this van as well, however the dealer has never been able to duplicate the problems experienced. We are very concerned that this van is infact a lemon, and we have contacted the Ford customer service line, which advised us that no assistance would be provided because the vehicle was out of manufacturers warranty by time, not by miles.
Heater not working properly. Temperature gauge overheated. Took it to dealer to check out. I was informed needed a new engine. The 3.8 liter v6 head gasket was a problem they were knowingly aware of. There is a special program providing coverage for 7 years or 100,000 miles. At 105,000 miles I do not qualify. My 5 year old vehicle needs a new engine at my expense. The vehicle was religiously maintained. The dealer, and supposed zone manager, won't budge. Why didn't they recall my car and replace the faulty head gasket before the engine failed. Unbelievable. As a consumer I feel I was mislead and intentionally kept uninformed. I fail to believe Ford can get away with having a product on the road they know is an engine failure time bomb.
The windows fog up and will not defrost unless the van is in one spot running. On below zero weather the windows fog up then frost over we had ice on the inside of the window. We have taken the van back to brown's 3 times and the have not fixed the problem yet. I have 4 children and I'm not able to use the van in the winter months because I can not see out the window. I've contacted Ford and they call brown's and talked to mike in servce and he said he would get the van in again but didn't contact us at all after that and that has been months ago. I need this problem fixed soon for the safety of my children. Thank you.
Was experiencing problems with head gasket leaking on 01 jan 00. Had vehicle towed to mechanic & informed head consumer that gasket was repaired previously. Problem caused engine to be damaged. Mechanic indicated vehicle is driveable, but engine was dying & had owner drive off lot. Returned vehicle & engine was replaced. New engine started to have electrical problems. Air conditioner did not work & dome light came on and off.
Due to a defective moisture punger modulator wiring harness kit, there is a mildew fungus type that grows in the air conditioner evaporator which causes the driver and occupants to breath dififcult, and May result in occupants fainting or possible death. There is a tsp bulletin 98-10-2 regarding this problem. Manufacturer is only willing to pay half for this known problem. Please provide further information.
Rear shocks failed at 3000 mi. A/C compressor relay failed summer of 1996 (hasn't work reliably since). Tailgate lock motor failed, pass window motor faled, sliding door elec contacts replaced, head gaskets failed 3 times in 80000 mi. And many other problems that the dealers have fixed under warranty or service bulletins. How much will it take for Ford to take responsibility for the 1995 lemon Windstar !!!
Consumer noticed vehicle idling a bit rough and jerking on highway. The heater was not working correctly, then consumer noticed the temperature gauge was at the highest temperature possible. Consumer took vehicle to a mechanic who took the engine apart, and saw that the head gasket was faulty, then replaced it. There were other problems due to faulty head gasket which all were repaired.
The brakes were repaired prior to us ever taking possesion of the vehicle, 1 week after purchase the transmissions and electrical system were under repair for 3 wks, electric sys still does not fnction properly, A/C never worked in car, brought in for repair and engine is damaged due to recall - will not be fixed for 5 to 12 weeks. I want a comparable replacement vehicle
Ie98-080; while traveling at 65 MPH with the air condtioning on, the air conditioner cut off. Also, engine operated erratically and white smoke come from the exhaust pipe. Consumer contacted the dealer. Dealer stated that engine head gasket blew out. Dealer has replaced engine head gasket and other parts. Engine overheated very quickly.
AC & Heater complaints in other Windstar years
Frequently asked questions
How common are ac & heater problems on the 1995 Ford Windstar?
NHTSA has 48 complaints about the a/c & heater of the 1995 Ford Windstar, 1% of the model year's 3,326 complaints. The component named most often is appliance › air conditioner (24 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1995 Ford Windstar ac & heater problems?
No. NHTSA lists no a/c & heater recall for the 1995 Ford Windstar, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to a/c & heater problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.