Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
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).
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 [redacted] 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. …
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.
Dt: while driving on September 24, 2005 the vehicle caught on fire. The consumer noticed smoke coming from under the hood. The consumer had not taken vehicle to be inspected. The consumer believed that it might have been caused by the ABS brakes. There was no previous warning before this occurred.
The first 3 incidents of the brakes failing did not result in an accident. We took the van to have the brakes checked at different locations; each time the shop could not diagnose what caused the failure nor cause it to repeat . Eventually the van stops, but it takes 2 to 3 car lengths longer to stop. The ABS brakes do not initiate and one mechanic explained that the ABS brakes only operate if it detects the wheels are locking. All 4 brake failures were on dry roads and we did not pump the brake. The failures happened twice to myself, once to my husband and once to my son. It tends to happen intermittently and we cannot tell if it has to do with the ABS, hydraulic brake system or the combination of the two. On each occurrance, the brake had been depressed to slow down. …
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. …
ABS locks and vehicle does not stop. Have spent over $2000 trying to fix braking issue. Tone rings, struts, suspension, front brakes, rear brakes, bearings, cv joints, master cylinder, among other replacements. Over bumps, small hills, straight roads, anytime coming to a stop, vehicle intermittently fails to stop completely. Have pumped brakes and found that brake pedal gets hard and loud, still does not help to stop vehicle. Steering wheel feels loose at when this happens. Brake pedal also kicks back, sometimes with excessive force, makes a load grinding noise. Controlling the car becomes difficult as loss of brake pressure and steering wheel rocking (on decent of small hill) combined make for a deadly combination. I am being forced to purchase a better vehicle, not ever Ford again.
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.
Dt: the consumer states on her 1995 Ford Windstar, there was NHTSA recall 01i007000 on the front coil springs. The spring on the passenger front broke when turning and caused the tire to blow out. The vehicle was towed at that time to a mechanic, and they informed the consumer about the recall. When she called Ford, they told her it was too late, that because the vehicle was originally bought in 1994 the warranty ran out. When she purchased the vehicle, in 2003, she received no notice there was a recall. Ford did not even have her as the current owner of the vehicle. The mechanic did find that the driver's side coil was broke. The tire was damaged, and there were no injuries. The consumer stated she has been having problems with the ABS since 2003.
Ford motor company has recalled 1995 Windstar for "right front brake line corrosion." both rear brake lines failed on our Windstar, VIN [redacted], on March 29, 2006 while approaching a stop sign. When I depressed the brake pedal, there was a small shudder and then the pedal went to the floor. Fortunately we live in a rural area, and although I proceeded through the stop sign without stopping, I did not collide with anything, and was able to stop the vehicle using the hand brake. The Ford dealership has told me that the rear brake lines failed, and that this is not covered by the current Ford recall. Updated 07/16/2012
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.
Related recalls
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
On certain minivans originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the brake line for corrosion and clearance conditions. A brake line that is not corroded will be repositioned.
NHTSA investigations
Hydraulic brake line failure
On April 4, 2002, Ford motor company notified odi of a defect condition that could result in extended stopping distances in approximately 250 thousand model year (my) 1995 and 1996 windstar minivans sold or registered in salt belt states (recall 02v-101).according to Ford, improper brake line routing in vehicles manufactured at the oakville assembly plant from January 14, 1994 through May 21, 1996 resulted in some…
Rear axle trailing arm
There is no summary currently available
Brake pedal fade/extended stopping
Odi has received sixty-eight (68) consumer reports of alleged failures or malfunctions in the brake system on certain 1995 and 1996 Ford windstars, which resulted in brake pedal fade and in extended stopping distances during brakingthese alleged failures or malfunctions are reported to have caused twelve (12) accidents that resulted from vehicle loss of braking.the conplainants report that the loss of braking…
Brake pedal fade/extended stop distance
There is no summary currently available
Brake complaints in other Windstar years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 1995 Ford Windstar?
NHTSA has 505 complaints about the brakes of the 1995 Ford Windstar, 15% of the model year's 3,326 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (281 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1995 Ford Windstar brake problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 02V-101 (hoses, lines/piping, and fittings, Apr 4, 2002). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1995 Ford Windstar brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 106,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 45 crashes, 5 fires and 30 injuries to brakes 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.