Menu

2000 Ford WindstarProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 1,675 owner complaints about the 2000 Ford Windstar, most often about the suspension. It is covered by 15 safety recalls, and for recall 15V-608 the manufacturer reports only 23% of affected cars repaired.

47
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.1× the Windstar median · #3 of 10 years by complaints
Safety recalls15Lowest repair rate 23%Owner complaints1,675162 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage118kSuspension, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through June 11, 2025. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2000 Ford Windstar has problems

1,675 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
Suspension35614
Power train27115
Electrical system22218
Structure2169
Service brakes, hydraulic20416
Vehicle speed control13830
Service brakes1242
Engine and engine cooling923
Steering727
24 other systems40547

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

15 recalls

2000 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 11 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

Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal

Recall 01V-207 · Jun 22, 2001 · 45,800 vehicles

Risk. THIS CAN RESULT IN A STUCK THROTTLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

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 →

–no report yet

Visibility: glass, side/rear

Recall 00V-020 · Jan 31, 2000 · 1,475 vehicles

Risk. IF THE BOND DETERIORATES, IT COULD PROVIDE LESS THAN THE INTENDED LEVEL OF GLASS RETENTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

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 suspension problems start?

118kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 298 suspension complaints. 31% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
4under 30k miles91under 100k miles207100k 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

33 owners mentioned a cost

$2,279median

Middle half: $2,000 – $2,800

Suspension

25 owners mentioned a cost

$1,000median

Middle half: $795 – $1,310

Engine and engine cooling

13 owners mentioned a cost

$1,000median

Middle half: $900 – $1,500

Service brakes, hydraulic

10 owners mentioned a cost

$750median

Middle half: $600 – $950

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

2000 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

2000 Ford Windstar safety ratings

2000 Ford Windstar in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2000 Ford Windstar frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
2000 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 2000 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 suspension complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

The rear axle broke for the second time on a Ford Windstar, after already breaking prior to a recall in 2010. It appears to have broken where a clamp was attached. This caused the rear wheels to fall into, and grind against the wheel well. This happened on a side street near my house. Had it…
Complaint 11590976 · May 28, 2024
The contact owns a 2000 Ford Windstar. The contact stated while reversing at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal booming sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the front spring had fractured and punctured the passenger’s side front tire. There were no warning lights…
Complaint 11537073 · Aug 8, 2023 · 75,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A SQUEALING NOISE AND THEN STARTED TO SMELL LIKE BURNING RUBBER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO COVER-JONES MOTOR (403 W. 3RD ST, ALLIANCE, NE 69301, [PHONE]) WHO STATED…
Complaint 11403234 · Mar 16, 2021 · 176,481 miles

Own a 2000 Windstar?

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