Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1995 Ford Windstar owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
* cruise control quit working over 24 months ago. * consistent loss of brake fluid over time. * fire discovered under hood when returning home. Fire located under brake master cylinder. Fire was put out with fire extinguisher. Vehicle towed to dealership, and they said this was a known problem with cruise control deactivation switches. Other vehicle models with the same switch have been recalled. See http://www.safetyforum.com/fordcruisecontrol/ *dealership is ordering parts to repair vehicle.
Tl contact owns a 1995 Ford Windstar. While driving at any speed, the ABS light would illuminate on the instrument panel and brake fluid would leak. The contact also noticed that the cruise control switch worked inconsistently. She discovered that the cruise control deactivation switch had melted. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 152,000.
1995 Ford Windstar van brake pressure switch caught fire. Occurred during fill up at gas station. I was able to extinguish the fire quickly as heavy blue smoke alerted me to the problem. Why wasn't this vehicle part of the recall for this same switch? My house could have burned down (garaged vehicle), as I understand the switch is electrically hot even with the car off!
My husband turned on our 1995 Ford Windstar and noticed a brake light on. He left it running, opened the hood and was about to check the master cylinder when a fire erupted below the brake master cylinder (all he had done was open the hood). Updated 12/30/08 the consumer stated the vehicle had some electrical problems days prior. Updated 01/05/09.
Tl contact owns a 1995 Ford Windstar. The contact was driving approximately 5 MPH in the driveway. A sudden acceleration occurred without warning causing the vehicle to crash into the garage. There was no personal injury. A police report was filed for the incident. The current and failure mileages were 50,000.
Our 1995 Ford Windstar burned. The building in which it was parked also burned along with a 1990 pace arrow motor home, a 2008 harley davidson motorcycle $5000.00 dollars worth of lumber and several thousand dollars worth of miscellaneous material.
Dt: while driving a month ago the consumer noticed a large amount of white smoke coming from under the front left side of the hood. The consumer pulled vehicle over, shut off the engine, and inspected under the hood. The consumer smelled plastic and electrical burning. The consumer restarted the engine and noticed there was a plug near the master cylinder, and the smoke was coming from that plug along the brake master cylinder. The consumer called his brother and consulted an automobile repair manual and discovered this was part of the cruise control system. Determined that the cruise control could be disconnected and they did so. The consumer left the vehicle sitting about seven to eight hours before disconnecting the switch and driving home. The consumer noted that cruise control switch quit working a few months prior. …
Dt: consumer has 1995 Windstar. Consumer says that the brake light was coming on. This happened frequently. It was maybe six months before brake fluid had to be added the second time. Then it got to where the fluid had to be added about once a week. When consumer added brake fluid the light would go off. Also cruise control did not work. Consumer took vehicle to daughter's auto mechanics class, where she found that the speed control deceleration switch burned off of the master cylinder. Consumer had problem repaired with what the Ford dealer called a replacement part. Consumer wanted to know if the replacement part was safe.
Vehicle suffered sudden acceleration at the speed of 50 MPH. The engine raced at 4000 RPM. And there was gasoline coming from the tailpipe. Dealer notified. * mr dealer found that the throttle was stuck. However consumer declined repairs. He felt that an improperly installed mass air flow caused the engine to race at high rpms.
Related recalls
Vehicle speed control
Ford is recalling model years 1995-2003 windstar, 2000-2003 excursion diesel, 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 f-250 sd through f-550 sd diesel, 1992-2003 e-150 through e-550, 1995-2002 explorer, 1997 and 2002 Mercury mountaineer, 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 ranger, and 1994 f53 vehicles equipped with the texas instruments speed control…
Remedy: Ford will notify owners that dealers will install a fused wiring harness in line with the scds. On 1999-2003 windstar vehicles with a leaking scds, dealers will also inspect the ABS control module connector and repair…
Acceleration complaints in other Windstar years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 1995 Ford Windstar?
NHTSA has 116 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 1995 Ford Windstar, 3% of the model year's 3,326 complaints. The component named most often is cruise control (15 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1995 Ford Windstar acceleration problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 09V-399 (vehicle speed control, Oct 13, 2009). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1995 Ford Windstar acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 137,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 7 crashes, 6 fires and 10 injuries to speed control & acceleration 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.