1990 Ford Windstar problems
The Ford Windstar (later the Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey) is a minivan that was produced and sold by Ford. The replacement for the Ford Aerostar, the Windstar adopted the front-wheel drive configuration of the Chrysler minivans. From the 1995 to 2007 model years, three generations of the model line were sold, with the final generation renamed as the Ford Freestar.
Unrelated to the Nissan-developed Mercury Villager, the Windstar was marketed without a Lincoln-Mercury counterpart. As part of the 2004 launch of the Ford Freestar, Mercury introduced its first Ford-produced minivan in a revival of the Mercury Monterey nameplate.
Following a decline in sales across the minivan segment in the mid-2000s, the Freestar and Monterey were discontinued after the 2007 model year with no direct replacement. In North America, the model line was functionally matched by the 7-passenger 2008 Ford Taurus X wagon/CUV; in Mexico, the Freestar was replaced by the Ford Transit/Tourneo. In 2014, Ford reentered the segment as the Ford Transit Connect compact MPV gained 7-passenger seating in North America.
During its production the Ford Windstar/Freestar and the Mercury Monterey were sourced from Oakville Assembly (Oakville, Ontario). In total, 1,984,232 were produced (1,704,786 Windstars, 246,493 Freestars, and 32,953 Montereys).
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Common 1990 Ford Windstar problems
The Ford Windstar, produced in the 1990s, has been known to have several common problems based on complaints from owners. Here are some of the issues that have been reported:
- Window Problems: The 2004 Ford F-150 appears to be blighted by failures in the electric window system, with the average cost to fix the issue being $320.
- Power Steering Problems: The 2012 Ford Focus has a notable problem with its power-steering system, which can fail suddenly, rendering the steering unusably heavy to operate. Many owners have been forced to replace the steering rack, at an average repair cost of $1900.
- PCM Problems: If you have a 2005 Ford Escape that's approaching 100,000 miles, then a PCM failure is a possible issue you'll face. This issue can cause the car to run rough or simply not run at all, with an average cost of $2050 to diagnose and repair.
- Electrical Problems: The Ford Edge is an undeniably high-tech vehicle, but that tech can sometimes go wrong. Notably, a number of owners have had cause to complain about the interior light of their vehicle remaining on even after the door is closed, with an average cost of $420 to fix.
- Wheel-Bearing Problems: Wheel bearing issues are a cause for concern for Ford Explorer owners, because they can fail on a monotonously regular basis. The only way to fix them is to replace them, at an average cost of $820.
- Transmission Problems: Transmission problems are the biggest issue facing owners of Fords. Thousands of people have lodged complaints about the transmission suddenly becoming lethargic, causing the car to 'lunge' forward or backwards, or refusing to shift altogether. This tends to happen at around the 98,000-mile mark and the problem can cost as much as $3000 to repair.
- Tailgate Problems: Again, a great number of owners of the Ford Explorer have reported problems with the panel below the rear window, which can easily become cracked. The average cost to repair the problem is around $460, mainly because it involves installing a new panel, which has to be painted to match the rest of the car.
- Coolant-Leak Problems: The radiator on the Ford Explorer appears to be a weak spot, because it has generated numerous complaints from owners. Unfortunately, replacing the radiator is not a cheap job, at an average of $720.
- Paint Problems: Paint issues are largely a thing of the past, but not if you have a 2013 Ford Explorer. Hundreds of owners have reported a problem where the paint on the leading edge of the hood bubbles up and flakes off. If not attended to, it simply starts to rust.
These issues are not exclusive to the 1990 model year, but they are common problems reported by Ford Windstar owners. It is important to note that not all vehicles will experience these issues, and regular maintenance and inspections can help prevent or identify potential problems early on.
How long do Ford Windstars last?
Expect a fairly meager typical lifespan of 180,000 miles.
Why did Ford stop making the Windstar?
Transmission issues plagued early models, and concerns about reliability dogged the minivan throughout its production run. Additionally, some criticized its handling, particularly in comparison to its nimbler competitors. In 2007, Ford discontinued the Windstar, replaced by the larger and more truck-like Freestar.
What kind of engine does a Ford Windstar have?
It was slotted above the Ford Galaxy in size and equipment level. The sole powertrain was the 3.0 L V6 engine and automatic transmission, with no diesel engine nor manual transmission available.
How many miles per gallon does a 1995 Ford Windstar get?
Ample power and quiet operation. The drawback is that the fuel economy rating is only 17 m.p.g. city/24 m.p.g. highway and that seemed generous based on our real-world extended trip.
How long do Ford Windstars last?
Expect a fairly meager typical lifespan of 180,000 miles.
Why did Ford stop making the Windstar?
Transmission issues plagued early models, and concerns about reliability dogged the minivan throughout its production run. Additionally, some criticized its handling, particularly in comparison to its nimbler competitors. In 2007, Ford discontinued the Windstar, replaced by the larger and more truck-like Freestar.
What engine is in a Ford Windstar?
3.8L V6
Powertrain. The Windstar shared its powertrains with the Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable. For its 1995 launch, the 3.8L V6 was the sole engine in GL and LX Models, producing 155 hp; a 150 hp 3.0L V6 was introduced as the standard engine in October 1995 for base and lower GL models.
How fast is a Ford Windstar?
Performance
| 0 - 80 kph | 8.8 s |
|---|---|
| 0 - 100 kph | 12.5 s |
| 0 - 160 kph | 38.9 s |
| 1000 m | 34.1 s |
| Top speed | 180 kph (112 mph) |
1990 Ford Windstar car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Ford Windstar problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Equipment problems
- Unknown or other problems
- Fuel system problems
- Gasoline problems
- Visibility problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1990 Ford Windstar vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1990 Ford Windstar complaints
The NHTSA has received 6 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1990 Ford Windstar.
VISIBILITY,EQUIPMENT PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2011-02-03
- Fire: 1
- VIN: 2FMZA5147YB
- Components: VISIBILITY,EQUIPMENT
- Summary: THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR OF MY 1990 FORD WINDSTAR HAS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES. IT WAS RECALLED EARLY AFTER MANUFACTURE OF THE CAR AND REPLACED BY FORD, BUT THE REPLACEMENT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. INTERMITTENT IS DYSFUNCTIONAL. THE MOTOR CONTINUED TO OPERATE EVEN AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF! (CAUSED A FIRE, HAD TO HAVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HERE) AND THAT WAS THE REPLACED MOTOR. FORD REFUSES TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT SINCE IT WAS ALREADY "REPLACED" UNDER THE RECALL. BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. HAD IT REPLACED AGAIN PAYING PRIVATELY AND THE SAME PROBLEM. DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE MOTORS FORD IS USING ON THIS MODEL OR SOMETHING ELSE WRONG WITH THIS CAR THAT MAKES THE WIPERS DO THIS. CURRENTLY, NO INTERMITTENTLY ON THE WIPERS AGAIN. (THIRD MOTOR) THANK YOU FOR ANYTHING YOU CAN DO. *TR
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2008-11-11
- Number Of Injuries: 3
- Crash: 1
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: HOW COME YOU DON'T LOWER THE SPEED LIMIT DOWN AT POMONA, MISSOURI? IT'S 45 IN BRANDSVILLE MISSOURI, AND IN KOSHKONG MISSOURI, WE HAVE YIELD SIGNS ON BOTH SIDES AND WE HAVE TO CROSS A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE BUT THE SPEED LIMIT IS STILL 65 MPH. DON'T UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A WRECK TODAY AND THREE PEOPLE WERE LOADED IN A AMBULANCE WHY DON'T YOU CARE? IF PEOPLE GET KILLED HERE I'VE SEEN OTHER WRECKS HERE ,.........DON'T UNDERSTAND TAMMY COLLINS
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EQUIPMENT,UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1990-05-08
- VIN: 1FCJE39H4LH
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EQUIPMENT,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: THIS TRUCK HAS ALWAYS HAD TROUBLE STARTING. WHEN DAMP OR COLD IT WONT START AT ALL. THE FUEL PUMP RELAY ALWAYS SHORTS OUT, COSTING ME $17.35 EVERYTIME IT RAINS OR IS DAMP. THE TRUCK WILL FINALLY START AFTER DRYING OUT THEN THE TRANSMISION WHEN PUT IN DRIVE WILL NOT MOVE UNTILL THE TRUCK IS WARM.REPLACED THE TRANS. AND IT STILL IS A PROBLEM. THE STARTER RELAY WENT BAD LAST WEEK COSTING ME 217 DOLLARS. THE TRUCK STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTIONS AND YOU HAVE TO PUT IT IN NUETRAL AT STOP LIGHTS AND REV THE ENGINE TO KEEP IT FROM STALLING..ITS BEEN IN THE DEALERS SHOP TO MANY TIMES TO RECALL AND THEY JUST GAVE UP AS DID I . I HAD TO TAKE IT TO ACADEMY FORD IN LAUREL, MD BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ONLY FORD DEALER FOR MILES THAT COULD GET IT IN THEIR SHOP.. THIS TRUCK HASNT RUN RIGHT FROM DAY ONE AND HAS HAD WAY TO MANY PROBLEMS TO LIST. IT ALSO HAS COST ME AN ARM AND LEG TO TRY AND KEEP IT RUNNING. PEOPLE IN THE SAME BUSINESS AS I AM BOUGHT THE SAME TRUCK ON THE SAME DAY AND ENCOUNTERED THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS TRUCK IS NOTHING MORE THAN A LEMON AND AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN THANKS
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1998-10-12
- VIN: 1FDEE14N1LH
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRE SIZE: P29575R15 )
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: 1FMDA31U0MC
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES THE PEDAL WILL NEARLY TRAVEL TO THE FLOOR, COMPUTER SYSTEM NEVER GAVE INDICATION THAT A PROBLEM EXISTED, MASTER CYLINDER HAD FAILED. PLEASE ADD FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1994-06-04
- VIN: 2FTJW36G2LC
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: FUEL TANK AUXILLARY SELECTOR SWITCH FAILED AFTER RECALL REPAIRS DUE TO CHECK VALVE NOT BEING INSTALLED IN REAR TANK DURING INITIAL REPAIRS. (89V-141) *AW
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1990 Ford Windstar problems:
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