Ford WindstarYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 14,108 NHTSA owner complaints across 11 model years, no Ford Windstar year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 1996, 1997, 2002 and 2003. The Windstar has 33 safety recalls on record.

Years to avoidNoneUse caution: 1995 Best years'96 '97 '02 '03Fewest complaints for their age Owner complaints14,108Top: Engine and engine cooling Safety recalls331995–2005 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Best & worst years

Ford Windstar years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Windstar median. Tap a year for its full report.

3,3261,3861921,4331,5221,6751,6861,3531,51024 1

'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05

Avoid
Caution
Solid
Best
Not rated

2005Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls 2004Not rated–/10024 complaints · 0 recalls 2003Solid51/1001,510 complaints · 8 recalls 2002Solid52/1001,353 complaints · 8 recalls 2001Solid46/1001,686 complaints · 15 recalls 2000Solid47/1001,675 complaints · 15 recalls 1999Solid49/1001,522 complaints · 11 recalls 1998Solid50/1001,433 complaints · 11 recalls 1997Best88/100192 complaints · 5 recalls 1996Solid51/1001,386 complaints · 8 recalls 1995Caution31/1003,326 complaints · 6 recalls

Complaints by system

Most common Ford Windstar problems

All model years combined: 14,108 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

2,690Engine and engine cooling91 crash/fire/injury

2,608Power train117 crash/fire/injury

2,144Service brakes, hydraulic169 crash/fire/injury

2,049Suspension84 crash/fire/injury

1,569Electrical system184 crash/fire/injury

1,241Structure52 crash/fire/injury

929Service brakes

893Vehicle speed control

683Steering

3,20727 other systems424 crash/fire/injury

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.

Complaints by system
System	Complaints	Crash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling	2690	91
Power train	2608	117
Service brakes, hydraulic	2144	169
Suspension	2049	84
Electrical system	1569	184
Structure	1241	52
Service brakes	929	19
Vehicle speed control	893	153
Steering	683	51
27 other systems	3207	424

33 recalls

Ford Windstar recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

Axle: non-powered axle assembly15V-608 · 1998–2003 · Sep 29, 2015 · 283,413 vehicles Axle: non-powered axle assembly12V-195 · 1998–2003 · May 3, 2012 · 9,192 vehicles Power train: axle assembly12V-193 · 1998–2003 · May 3, 2012 · 27,000 vehicles Front: control arm12V-194 · 1999–2003 · May 3, 2012 · 23,000 vehicles Frame and members: underbody shields11V-030 · 1999–2003 · Jan 26, 2011 · 425,288 vehicles Axle: non-powered axle assembly10V-385 · 1998–2003 · Aug 26, 2010 · 492,650 vehicles Vehicle speed control09V-399 · 1995–2003 · Oct 13, 2009 · 4,500,000 vehicles Seats: mid/rear assembly03V-459 · 2001–2003 · Nov 6, 2003 · 257,119 vehicles Foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings02V-101 · 1995–1996 · Apr 4, 2002 · 250,283 vehicles Trailer hitches02V-072 · 2000–2001 · Mar 11, 2002 · 417,037 vehicles Appliance: air conditioner01V-262 · 1999–2001 · Aug 15, 2001 · 413,245 vehicles Windshield wiper/washer: motor01V-261 · 1999–2001 · Aug 15, 2001 · 598,256 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 33 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

27 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Windstar

Dec 20, 2010
Front Subframe Corrosion FailuresEA10007 · 1999–2003 · closed Mar 17, 2011
Led to recall 11V-030
Dec 15, 2010
Rear Axle Fracture Recall ScopeDP10005 · 2003 · closed Dec 21, 2010
No recall
Jul 20, 2010
Front Subframe Corrosion FailuresPE10026 · 1999–2003 · closed Dec 20, 2010
Led to recall 11V-030
May 13, 2010
Rear Axle CrackingPE10016 · 1998–2003 · closed Sep 22, 2010
Led to recall 10V-385
Sep 17, 2008
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA08021 · 1995–2003 · closed Oct 14, 2009
Led to recall 09V-399
May 13, 2008
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESPE08035 · 1995–2003 · closed Sep 17, 2008
No recall
Feb 17, 2005
FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLYEA05004 · 2001 · closed Jul 6, 2005
No recall
Oct 22, 2004
FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLYRQ04011 · 2001 · closed Feb 17, 2005
No recall
May 27, 2004
HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE FAILURERQ04003 · 1995–1996 · closed Oct 7, 2004
No recall
Mar 3, 2004
POWER SLIDING DOOR OPENINGPE04022 · 1999–2002 · closed Jul 1, 2004
No recall