Menu

1999 Ford WindstarProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 1,522 owner complaints about the 1999 Ford Windstar, most often about the power train. It is covered by 11 safety recalls, and for recall 15V-608 the manufacturer reports only 23% of affected cars repaired.

49
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.0× the Windstar median · #4 of 10 years by complaints
Safety recalls11Lowest repair rate 23%Owner complaints1,522147 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage73kPower train, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 2, 2025. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1999 Ford Windstar has problems

1,522 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 train27824
Structure2766
Electrical system20930
Suspension2089
Steering1848
Service brakes, hydraulic13013
Engine and engine cooling12910
Vehicle speed control9912
Service brakes723
22 other systems32242

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

11 recalls

1999 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.

23%repaired · 2017 Q1

Axle: non-powered axle assembly

Recall 15V-608 · Sep 29, 2015 · 283,413 vehicles · 64,282 repaired

Risk. If the brackets were not installed properly, the rear axle may fracture, affecting the vehicle handling and increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Axle: non-powered axle assembly

Recall 12V-195 · May 3, 2012 · 9,192 vehicles

Risk. A FRACTURED AXLE MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Front: control arm

Recall 12V-194 · May 3, 2012 · 23,000 vehicles

Risk. A SEPARATION OF A FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM REAR ATTACHING BRACKET MAY RESULT IN A LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATION.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 7 more recalls
–no report yet

Frame and members: underbody shields

Recall 11V-030 · Jan 26, 2011 · 425,288 vehicles

Risk. THIS COULD RESULT IN REDUCED STEERING CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Axle: non-powered axle assembly

Recall 10V-385 · Aug 26, 2010 · 492,650 vehicles

Risk. A FRACTURED AXLE CAN AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Windshield wiper/washer: motor

Recall 01V-261 · Aug 15, 2001 · 598,256 vehicles

Risk. SWITCH MALFUNCTION IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR WHEN THE INTERMITTENT SETTING OF THE WIPERS IS BEING USED, OR WHEN SNOW OR ICE OBSTRUCTS THE BLADES FROM RETURNING…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Wiring: interior/under dash

Recall 00V-351 · Oct 30, 2000 · 180,000 vehicles

Risk. THE STANDARD REQUIRES THAT POWER OPERATED WINDOWS MAY BE CLOSED ONLY WHEN THE KEY IS IN THE "ON," "START," OR "ACCESSORY" POSITIONS, OR DURING THE INTERVAL…

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.

Mileage at failure

When do power train problems start?

73kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 158 power train complaints. 68% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
10under 30k miles108under 100k miles50100k 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.

Power train

25 owners mentioned a cost

$2,300median

Middle half: $1,500 – $2,700

Structure

23 owners mentioned a cost

$1,200median

Middle half: $950 – $1,500

Steering

16 owners mentioned a cost

$800median

Middle half: $600 – $1,074

Engine and engine cooling

9 owners mentioned a cost

$1,700median

Middle half: $731 – $4,000

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

1999 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

1999 Ford Windstar safety ratings

1999 Ford Windstar w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

1999 Ford Windstar frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
1999 Ford Windstar side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrierNot rated
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
8 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1999 Ford Windstar, and the recalls they led to.

  1. WHEEL STUD FRACTUREEA03004 · closed Aug 30, 2004
    No recall
  2. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA08021 · closed Oct 14, 2009
    Led to recall 09V-399
  3. Front Subframe Corrosion FailuresEA10007 · closed Mar 17, 2011
    Led to recall 11V-030
  4. WHEEL STUD FRACTUREPE02085 · closed Apr 10, 2003
    No recall
  5. POWER SLIDING DOOR OPENINGPE04022 · closed Jul 1, 2004
    No recall
  6. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESPE08035 · closed Sep 17, 2008
    No recall
  7. Rear Axle CrackingPE10016 · closed Sep 22, 2010
    Led to recall 10V-385
  8. Front Subframe Corrosion FailuresPE10026 · closed Dec 20, 2010
    Led to recall 11V-030
In owners' words

What Windstar owners report

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

The contact owns a 1999 Ford Windstar. The contact stated while driving 5 MPH out of the driveway, the vehicle made an abnormal grinding and popping sound. The contact shifted to park(P). The contact stated that upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed that the rear passenger's side tire…
Complaint 11652242 · Apr 2, 2025 · 103,000 miles
I HAVE 3 PROBLEMS WITH MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR WHICH CURRENTLY HAS 60,000 MILES. ONE OF THEM IS THE GLASS IN FRONT WHEN I'M DRIVING IN THE RAIN I HAVE TO TURN ON THE WIPERS THE DRIVER'S SIDE IN THE MIDDLE PART OF THE WIPER STAYS WET WHILE THE PASSENGER SIDE CLEANS VERY WELL. THE OTHER PROBLEM I'VE…
Complaint 11282498 · Nov 26, 2019 · 60,000 miles
I HAVE 3 PROBLEMS WITH MY 1999 FORD WINDSTAR WHICH CURRENTLY HAS 60,000 MILES. ONE OF THEM IS THE GLASS IN FRONT WHEN I'M DRIVING IN THE RAIN I HAVE TO TURN ON THE WIPERS THE DRIVER'S SIDE IN THE MIDDLE PART OF THE WIPER STAYS WET WHILE THE PASSENGER SIDE CLEANS VERY WELL. THE OTHER PROBLEM I'VE…
Complaint 11282494 · Nov 26, 2019 · 60,000 miles

Own a 1999 Windstar?

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