Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
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 approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle shut down completely. The vehicle was towed to her residence. The vehicle was inoperable for 1 to 2 months. A local mechanic stated that the wires located near the engine were burned and that the vehicle was "junk" and that the engine needed to be replaced. She also stated that the vehicle experienced electrical issues and that the power locks never functioned correctly. The dealer advised her that the repairs would cost $3,000. The manufacturer was not informed about the failure; however, she did receive recall notice (09V399000). She no longer owns the vehicle. The current and failure mileages were approximately 179,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1995 Ford Windstar. While parked at a gas station, the vehicle caught fire from under the hood without warning. The manufacturer advised the vehicle was under an unknown recall and an investigator would further inspect the vehicle for the cause of the fire. The vehicle was repaired under the unknown recall however, the contact stated the brake warning light illuminated following repairs. The contact had not had any problems with the braking system before repairs. The contact spoke with the manufacturer who provided no assistance and he was unable to locate a dealer who would make further repairs to the vehicle. The failure mileage was 170,000 and the current was 177,000.
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.
Stopped at diner to eat lunch and within 10 minutes my van was in flames. Fire started underhood on driver side. Officials stated that cause was most likely due to defective electrical wiring at the brake fluid reservoir. Called Ford and go no help.
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.
Vehicle caught on fire while parked in front of the consumer's home. Fire department was contacted and extinguished the fire. Fire inspector indicated that the fire was an electrical wiring failure.
Tl contact owns a 1995 Ford Windstar. Three days after the vehicle was purchased, the engine stalled while driving 5 MPH. The failure occurred up to seven times per day. The contact was unable to start the engine and the vehicle was towed to her residence. She called a repair shop and they informed her that the alternator was defective. She removed the alternator from the vehicle and took it to the shop to have it tested. The mechanic informed her that the alternator was no good; therefore, the contact purchased a new one and placed it into the vehicle. She was able to start the engine and run the vehicle, but it stalled once again 4 blocks later. She restarted the vehicle, drove home, and called the dealer from where she purchased the vehicle. She took the vehicle to the dealer and they stated that the oxygen sensor failed. …
Brake light come on frequently. Door ajar light stays on occasionally causing interior lights to remain on even when all doors are shut. Dash light quit working. Took to certified mechanic and found the problem was in the ashtray light, disconnected ashtray light and dash lights started working again. Engine light staying on. Took to certified mechanic, was told that vacuum hose was off the EGR valve. Mechanic put vacuum hose back on. Problem recurred 3 days later but this time not vacuum hose. Believe the problem to be EGR valve itself. Engine surges/misses constantly. Did a tune up, replacing plugs wires, etc.. Problem still exists especially after vehicle is run for a while. Often shifts hard during acceleration. Have done transmission service, problem still exists. Do not take off hard from stops.
Related recalls
Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulator
The alternator output wire was not connected tightly to the power distribution box.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the connection. Vehicles with visible damage to the plastic power distribution box housing will have the the underhood harness, including the power distribution box, replaced.
Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
The wiring harness insulation can abrade on a brace that runs from the instrument panel to the cowl.
Remedy: Dealers will install a shield on the instrument panel to cowl brace, and installation of a piece of convolute wrap material on one of the adjacent harnesses.
NHTSA investigations
Engine compartment fires
Odi has received 134 consumer complaints, 285 manufacturer complaints, and 137 manufacturer warranty claims alleging incidents of engine compartment fire in model year (my) 1995 thru 2003 Ford windstar vehicles.two of the odi complaints allege the fires caused structural damage to the complainant's home.of the 134 odi complaints, 36 allege the fire occurred while the vehicle was parked, 72 allege the fire occurred…
Engine compartment fires
Ea08-021 is closed with Ford's actions in recall 09v-399 recalling approximately 4.5 million vehicles equipped with texas instruments speed control deactivation switches (scds).with this recall Ford has now recalled all of the approximate 16 million Ford model vehicles that were manufactured from my 1992 through 2003 with a texas instruments scds.NHTSA will continue to monitor the recalled vehicles to ensure…
Electrical complaints in other Windstar years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 1995 Ford Windstar?
NHTSA has 168 complaints about the electrical system of the 1995 Ford Windstar, 5% of the model year's 3,326 complaints. The component named most often is ignition (35 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1995 Ford Windstar electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 94V-223 (alternator/generator/regulator, Nov 4, 1994); NHTSA recall 94V-222 (front underhood, Nov 4, 1994). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1995 Ford Windstar electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 137,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 24 fires and 3 injuries to electrical system 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.