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1995 Ford Windstar

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1995 Windstar.

Body VAN

The 1995 Ford Windstar is a VAN that requires 4.0 quarts of 5W-20 API oil for routine maintenance. Within the broader Windstar model history spanning 1990 to 2005, the 1995 model represents the peak of owner dissatisfaction, accumulating 3,777 complaints—far and away the highest of any model year—with engine and engine cooling problems constituting the primary issue, alongside eight total recalls issued for this model year. This stark contrast with the 2005 model's single recorded complaint indicates that the 1995 Windstar sits at a significant reliability nadir within the nameplate's production run.

Model year2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.0 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 65 · 650 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 65 · 650 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP215-70R15OEM · verified

Wheel / rim5.5-, 6-JJ inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	201.2 in
Overall width	75.6 in
Overall height	68.1 in
Wheelbase	120.9 in
Curb weight	3732 lb
Track (front / rear)	63.8 / 63.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	61/39

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.0 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Oil	SYNTHETIC · 5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.0 qt
Engine Oil	SYNTHETIC · 5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5.0 qt
Power Steering Fluid	ATF

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	7.4 ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings	23-28 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	55-65 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts	59 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	15-22 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	18 ft-lbs
Main Bearings	59 ft-lbs
Main Bearings	81-88 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts

100 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-4-2-5-3-6
Spark Plug Manufacturer	Motorcraft
Spark Plug Gap	0.042-0.046 in
Spark Plug Torque	7.0-15.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Manufacturer	Motorcraft
Spark Plug Gap	0.052-0.056 in
Spark Plug Torque	5.0-11.0 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing	10 degrees

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	Oil must meet ford specification WSHM1C231B
Standard BCI Group Number	65
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	650 cca
Optional BCI Group Number	58
Optional BCI Cranking Performance	540 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	16 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	16 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	192 °F
Pressure Test	16 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	16 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	190 °F
Engine Oil Pressure	40-60 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM	2500 rpm

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	26 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	85 ft-lbs / 11-14 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.040; Rear: 0.030 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness	0.030
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0004 in / 0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.003 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.02 in / 0.472 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	1.02 in / 0.472 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

30-34 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90-120

30–34 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

1	59 ft. lbs.	59 ft. lbs
2	mum of one full turn
3	33-41 ft. lbs.	33–41 ft. lbs
4	63-73

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	14 ft. lbs.	14 ft. lbs
2	29 ft. lbs.	29 ft. lbs
3	36 ft. lbs.; Perform following 3 steps on each bolt; before moving to next bolt in sequence	36 ft. lbs
1	loosen 2-3 turns
2	if long bolt	30–37 ft. lbs
3	turn 175-185 degrees; Proceed to next bolt in sequence	175–185 degrees

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	35-40 ft. lbs.	35–40 ft. lbs
2	56-60

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

bolts 1-4 hand tight-step 2

11 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 5,000 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 5,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 10,000 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Brake Linings (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 60,000 mi	PCV Valve (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1995 Ford Windstar marks a dramatic inflection point in the federal record, with 3,777 complaints, 8 recalls, 14 investigations, and 211 TSBs — figures that dwarf the prior 1990-1994 run of 23 or fewer complaints per year and no recalls. This first Windstar model year sits at the leading edge of the generation's trouble arc, posting the single highest complaint count and investigation tally of any year in the dataset, and its top complaint categories cluster in Engine & Engine Cooling (1,327 reports), Power Train (612), and Service Brakes, Hydraulic (412), with 146 crash-related and 50 fire-related complaints also on file. While 1996 shows a partial retreat to 1,484 complaints, the broader pattern through 2003 remains elevated, with a second peak in 1998 (2,440 complaints and 20 recalls), indicating the 1995 spike was not an isolated launch-year anomaly but the start of sustained regulatory attention. The data does not specify root causes, but the concentration of reports in powertrain, cooling, and brake systems suggests systemic exposure across multiple critical vehicle systems. Given that 1995 carries the highest complaint burden and one of the largest investigation counts in the generation, it is not a recommended model year for a used Windstar purchase.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

211

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

3,777

Owner complaints

146 involved a crash · 50 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94’95’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 3,777 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling1327

Power Train612

Service Brakes, Hydraulic412

Engine & Engine Cooling,Power Train131

Fuel System, Gasoline112

Suspension104

Electrical System103

Air Bags82

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 8 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

09V399000Vehicle Speed ControlReported 13/10/2009

FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY… Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE…

01I007000Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil SpringsReported 12/07/2001

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1995-1998 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVANS. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS COULD… Remedy: FORD IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY FOR FRONT COIL SPRING REPLACEMENT TO A TOTAL OF 10 YEARS OF SERVICE FROM THE WARRANTY START DATE, WITH UNLIMITED MILEAGE. THIS COVERAGE IS…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Windstar. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 65 battery Vehicles taking 4.0 qt

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1995 Windstar take?

4.0 qt of SYNTHETIC 5W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1995 Windstar have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 8 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.