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1985 Ford Windstar

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
5Owner complaints

Model-year median: 192

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
5
1985
Compare all Windstar years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
2Electrical System
1Engine And Engine Cooling
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Steering
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 5 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

5 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 1998
Power Train

WE ARE EXPERIANCING ERATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS DURING SHIFTING SOMETIMES CAUSING STALLING, AND A HIGH R.P.M AT HIGH SPEEDS. THIS WORRIES ME IN THE SAFETY OF DRIVING. WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE FIVE STAR SAFETY RATING BECAUSE OF HAVING A CHILDCARE BUSINESS(FOR THE SAFETY OF TRANSPORTING LITTLE ONES). …

Read full complaint

WE ARE EXPERIANCING ERATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS DURING SHIFTING SOMETIMES CAUSING STALLING, AND A HIGH R.P.M AT HIGH SPEEDS. THIS WORRIES ME IN THE SAFETY OF DRIVING. WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE FIVE STAR SAFETY RATING BECAUSE OF HAVING A CHILDCARE BUSINESS(FOR THE SAFETY OF TRANSPORTING LITTLE ONES). THANK YOU JON BRADLEY

NHTSA ODI #700605

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 1998
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #780651

Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE CYLINDER HEAD BECAME APART OR LOOSE . ALSO COOLANT ON CYLINDER HEAD BECAME LOOSE. THE ENGINE KEPT RUNNING FOR A FEW MINUTES. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #821831

Mileage unknown · May 31, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #985074

Mileage unknown · May 4, 1996
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

POWER STEERING RACK FELL OFF. (FIRST VEHICLE ON 601396) *DSH

NHTSA ODI #504046

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.