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2001 Ford WindstarProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 1,686 owner complaints about the 2001 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.

2001 Ford Windstar
46
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.2× the Windstar median · #2 of 10 years by complaints
Safety recalls15Lowest repair rate 23%Owner complaints1,686175 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage123kSuspension, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 13, 2023. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2001 Ford Windstar has problems

1,686 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
Suspension41622
Structure29316
Service brakes, hydraulic29218
Electrical system22324
Service brakes1934
Power train1454
Vehicle speed control12722
Steering704
Engine and engine cooling6610
24 other systems39559

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

15 recalls

2001 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

Seats: mid/rear assembly

Recall 03V-459 · Nov 6, 2003 · 257,119 vehicles

Risk. IF THE LATCHES ON TH4E SECOND OR THIRD ROW SEATS OF THE VEHICLE RELEASE IN A CRASH, THE POTENTIAL FOR OCCUPANT INJURY IS INCREASED.

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

Front: buckle assembly

Recall 01V-227 · Jul 16, 2001 · 1,400,000 vehicles

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM MAY NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE OCCUPANT PROTECTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

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

Frontal: sensor/control module-inactive

Recall 00V-412 · Dec 6, 2000 · 16,000 vehicles

Risk. IN SOME CASES, LESS THAN THE INTENDED LEVEL OF PROTECTION 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?

123kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 357 suspension complaints. 26% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
5under 30k miles94under 100k miles263100k 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.

Structure

23 owners mentioned a cost

$2,000median

Middle half: $1,000 – $2,000

Service brakes, hydraulic

23 owners mentioned a cost

$1,000median

Middle half: $650 – $2,000

Suspension

23 owners mentioned a cost

$975median

Middle half: $843 – $1,400

Service brakes

14 owners mentioned a cost

$1,000median

Middle half: $826 – $1,315

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

2001 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

2001 Ford Windstar safety ratings

2001 Ford Windstar in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2001 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 2001 Ford Windstar, and the recalls they led to.

  1. FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLYEA05004 · closed Jul 6, 2005
    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. POWER SLIDING DOOR OPENINGPE04022 · closed Jul 1, 2004
    No recall
  5. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESPE08035 · closed Sep 17, 2008
    No recall
  6. Rear Axle CrackingPE10016 · closed Sep 22, 2010
    Led to recall 10V-385
  7. Front Subframe Corrosion FailuresPE10026 · closed Dec 20, 2010
    Led to recall 11V-030
  8. FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLYRQ04011 · closed Feb 17, 2005
    No recall
In owners' words

What Windstar owners report

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

The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The contact stated while driving 15 MPH, the rear axle fractured. There was no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed back to the residence. The vehicle had been diagnosed by an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that the failure was…
Complaint 11554891 · Nov 13, 2023 · 105,000 miles
Rear axle cracked where bracket that was installed during previous recall. Van is not drivable and could have been a bad accident.
Complaint 11514177 · Mar 28, 2023
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while his son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently came to a complete stop. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the rear wheels were crooked and rubbing against the inner fender well. The vehicle was…
Complaint 11503400 · Jan 24, 2023 · 180,000 miles

Own a 2001 Windstar?

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