no report yet
Vehicle speed control
Risk. A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.
1996 Ford WindstarProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 1,386 owner complaints about the 1996 Ford Windstar, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It is covered by 8 safety recalls.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 14, 2015. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 1996 Ford Windstar has problems
1,386 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
470Engine and engine cooling4 crash/fire/injury
322Power train10 crash/fire/injury
218Service brakes, hydraulic22 crash/fire/injury
111Suspension3 crash/fire/injury
83Electrical system
82Vehicle speed control
50Steering
46Fuel system, gasoline
42Wheels
21219 other systems44 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 470 | 4 |
| Power train | 322 | 10 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 218 | 22 |
| Suspension | 111 | 3 |
| Electrical system | 83 | 20 |
| Vehicle speed control | 82 | 24 |
| Steering | 50 | 7 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 46 | 2 |
| Wheels | 42 | 3 |
| 19 other systems | 212 | 44 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
8 recalls
1996 Ford Windstar recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
no report yet
Foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk. LEAKAGE OF BRAKE FLUID WILL RESULT IN BRAKE LIGHT ACTIVATION.
no report yet
Exterior lighting
Risk. THE LIGHT GIVEN OFF FROM THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS IS BRIGHTER THAN ALLOWED BY U.S.
no report yet
Foundation components: master cylinder
Show 4 more recalls
no report yet
Body: hood
Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN TOTAL SEPARATION OF THE OUTER HOOD PANEL.
no report yet
Automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl)
Risk. UNINTENDED AND UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT CAN RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.
no report yet
Seats
Risk. THE DRIVER'S SEAT MAY NOT PROPERLY HOLD IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.
no report yet
Power train: automatic transmission
Risk. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PARK PAWL OCCASIONALLY NOT ENGAGING WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.
Mileage at failure
When do engine and engine cooling problems start?
80kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 95 engine and engine cooling complaints. 78% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 16% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
5under 30k miles74under 100k miles21100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine and engine cooling
48 owners mentioned a cost$1,462median
Middle half: $600 – $2,325
Power train
21 owners mentioned a cost$880median
Middle half: $525 – $2,000
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
1996 vs. every other Windstar year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Windstar median. How we score
'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
1996 Ford Windstar safety ratings
1996 Ford Windstar in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
13 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 1996 Ford Windstar, and the recalls they led to.
- SUSPENSION COIL SPRING BREAKAGELed to recall 01I007000
- ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESLed to recall 09V-399
- BRAKE PEDAL FADE/EXTENDED STOP DISTANCENo recall
- OUTER HOOD PANEL DETACHMENTLed to recall 97V-180
- FUEL TANK CRACKSLed to recall 99V-309
- SUSPENSION COIL SPRING BREAKAGENo recall
- ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESNo recall
- FAILURE OF AUTO TRANS PARK LOCK SYSTEMLed to recall 96V-086
- BRAKE PEDAL FADE/EXTENDED STOPPINGNo recall
- OUTER HOOD PANEL DETACHMENTNo recall
- REAR AXLE TRAILING ARMNo recall
- FUEL TANK FATIGUE CRACKINGLed to recall 99V-309
- HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE FAILURENo recall
In owners' words
What Windstar owners report
Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
I PURCHASED A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR VAN 3.0 L IN JUNE 2010. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE FROM DAY 1 TO CURRENT MOST DANGEROUS IS THE BLOWING SPARK PLUG WHICH HAS BLOWN OUT 2 TIMES FORCING ME TO DRIVE IT TO A PLACE WHERE IT COULD BE PARKED FOR REPAIR FIRST TIME BLOW OUT WAS 7 DAYS AFTER…
CHECK ENGINE STAYS ON AFTER TUNEUP... DOES NOT LOSE SPEED... RUNS ROUGH AFTER ACCELERATING AND DOESN'T NOT OVERHEAT....WHAT IS THE PROBLEM. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR GL (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE WAITING A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DIED AND THE ENGINE ENGULFED INTO FLAMES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE CALLED BUT NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED…
Own a 1996 Windstar?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.