Menu

1997 Ford WindstarProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 192 owner complaints about the 1997 Ford Windstar, most often about the power train. It is covered by 5 safety recalls.

88
CarFlaw IndexOne of the best years87% below the Windstar median · #9 of 10 years by complaints
Safety recalls5Free fix at dealersOwner complaints19219 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage146kPower train, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through May 15, 2014. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1997 Ford Windstar has problems

192 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Power train432
Suspension380
Engine and engine cooling382
Service brakes, hydraulic240
Vehicle speed control214
Steering132
Structure80
Electrical system73
Seats61
12 other systems375

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

5 recalls

1997 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.

Show 1 more recall
–no report yet

Power train: automatic transmission

Recall 97V-097 · Jun 9, 1997 · 100,000 vehicles

Risk. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TEMPERATURE MAY BE HOT ENOUGH TO IGNITE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

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.

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.

Power train

10 owners mentioned a cost

$500median

Middle half: $350 – $1,650

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

1997 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

1997 Ford Windstar safety ratings

1997 Ford Windstar in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

1997 Ford Windstar frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
6 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1997 Ford Windstar, and the recalls they led to.

  1. SUSPENSION COIL SPRING BREAKAGEEA00027 · closed Jul 31, 2001
    Led to recall 01I007000
  2. WHEEL STUD FRACTUREEA03004 · closed Aug 30, 2004
    No recall
  3. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA08021 · closed Oct 14, 2009
    Led to recall 09V-399
  4. FUEL TANK CRACKSEA99020 · closed Dec 16, 1999
    Led to recall 99V-309
  5. SUSPENSION COIL SPRING BREAKAGEPE00024 · closed Dec 8, 2000
    No recall
  6. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESPE08035 · closed Sep 17, 2008
    No recall
In owners' words

What Windstar owners report

Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IMMOBILE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, SMOKE ERUPTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE ENGINE WAS IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF AND THE VEHICLE WAS VACATED. THE HOOD WAS RAISED AND FLAMES LOOKED AS IF THEY IT WAS COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE WAS…
Complaint 10163496 · Jul 26, 2006 · 146,000 miles
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Complaint 10026343 · Jul 1, 2003
SUDDEN CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 1996 WINDSTAR, 86,000 MI. PROPER MAINTENENCE HAD BEEN DONE. I SEE THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS HERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. NHTSA IT IS TIME TO STEP UP AND FORCE A RECALL. HOW LONG DO THE CONSUMERS HAVE TO BEAR THE BRUNT OF THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT. WE…
Complaint 10000833 · Jan 8, 2003

Own a 1997 Windstar?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.