SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

1994 Ford Windstar

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1994 Ford Windstar do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 192.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
23Owner complaints

Model-year median: 192

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1994 Ford Windstar

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 23 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 2 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 8 reports
  • Power Train: 8 reports
  • Suspension: 3 reports
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2 reports
  • Air Bags: 1 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    3
    1991    2
    1992    11
    1993    23
    1994    3,326
    1995    1,386
    1996    192
    1997
    Compare all Windstar years →

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

    What owners reported most

    Engine And Engine Cooling
    8    Power Train
    8    Suspension
    3    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    2    Air Bags
    1
    All reported categories
    Equipment
    1    Seats
    1    Structure
    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: 4 of 23 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.

    • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Power Train. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Suspension. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

    NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

    2 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

    Power Train complaints

    8 reports
    Clear category filter
    40,000 miles · Dec 24, 2002
    Power Train

    WHEN VEHICLE IS AT A COMPLETE STOP OR IDLING AND GAS IS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE HESITATES TO ACCELERATE, THEN LAUNCHES FORWARD WHEN ACCELERATOR ENGAGES. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS IS A RESULT OF A FAULTY PISTON IN THE TRANSMISSION, AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL/YEAR VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. …

    Read full complaint

    WHEN VEHICLE IS AT A COMPLETE STOP OR IDLING AND GAS IS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE HESITATES TO ACCELERATE, THEN LAUNCHES FORWARD WHEN ACCELERATOR ENGAGES. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS IS A RESULT OF A FAULTY PISTON IN THE TRANSMISSION, AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL/YEAR VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

    NHTSA ODI #10001449

    Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2002
    Power Train

    CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO ACCELERATE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

    NHTSA ODI #8024130

    Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2002
    Power Train

    CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING OVER 35 MPH WITHOUT WARNING THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE WILL MOVE BACK AND FOURTH EXTREMELY FAST RESULTING IN THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE NOT TO REGISTER.*JB

    NHTSA ODI #8014768

    Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2000
    Power Train

    WHEN GOING TO PARK INTO REVERSE CONSUMER WILL HEAR A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

    NHTSA ODI #865422

    Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 1999
    Power Train

    THIS FAILURE CAUSES VEHICLE TO LOSE DRIVE POWER AT INTERSECTIONS AND IS VERY UNSAFE, WHEN I CONTACTED FORD THEY SAID NO RECALL HAD BEEN ORDERED AND THEY WOULD DO NOTHING UNTIL A RECALL IS ORDERED. THIS IS EXTREMLY UNSAFE TO LOSE POWER IN AN INTERSECTION, FORD HAS REDESIGNED THIS PART ON LATER MODELS BECAUSE OF FAILURE BUT THEY A…

    Read full complaint

    THIS FAILURE CAUSES VEHICLE TO LOSE DRIVE POWER AT INTERSECTIONS AND IS VERY UNSAFE, WHEN I CONTACTED FORD THEY SAID NO RECALL HAD BEEN ORDERED AND THEY WOULD DO NOTHING UNTIL A RECALL IS ORDERED. THIS IS EXTREMLY UNSAFE TO LOSE POWER IN AN INTERSECTION, FORD HAS REDESIGNED THIS PART ON LATER MODELS BECAUSE OF FAILURE BUT THEY ARE NOT REPLACING PARTS ALREADY INSTALLED ON EXISTING VEHICLES. THEY SAID IT WOULD TAKE AN ORDER FROM NHTSA WOULD YOU PLEASE CHECK THIS OUT AND ORDER A RECALL, WHILE I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT THIS FAULTLY CLUCTH IS UNSAFE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THANKS FOR YOUR CONCERN!

    NHTSA ODI #709367

    Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 1997
    Power Train

    TRANSMISSION ENGAGES SLOWELY WHEN HOT, FALLS INTO NEUTRAL SLIPS ON START, AND A LOUD THUMP IS HEARD WHILE DRIVING, THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATED FOWARD CLUTCH PISTON AND 3RD CLUTCH PISTON ALUMINUM CRACKED.*JB

    NHTSA ODI #816793

    Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 1997
    Power Train

    TRANSMISSION FAILED - VEHICLE DRIFTED BACKWARDS SEVERAL FEET, THEN SURGE FORWARD.

    NHTSA ODI #520649

    Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 1997
    Power Train

    WAS DRIVING ALONG AT APPROXIMATELY 35MPH , PULLED OUT TO GET IN PASSING LANE AND TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND HE COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. NOW THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #808351

    Recall campaigns

    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 ↗

    Defect investigations

    2

    EA97018 · Outer Hood Panel Detachment

    Opened Sep 30, 1997 · Closed Oct 22, 1997

    Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

    There is no summary currently available

    PE97011 · Outer Hood Panel Detachment

    Opened Mar 13, 1997 · Closed Sep 30, 1997

    Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

    THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION HAS RECEIVED 6 REPORTS INDICATING THE OUTER HOOD PANEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLES AS THEY WERE BEING DRIVEN.FORD HAS PROVIDE 39 ADDITIONAL REPORTS THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH ODI REPORTS.FORD INDICATES THAT THE LIKELY CAUSE IS PRIOR COLLISION DAMAGE.THIS INVESTIGATION IS BEING UPGRADED TO FURTHER STUDY THIS ISSUE.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.