1998 Ford WINDSTAR problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,131 owner complaints analyzed
11 distinct recall campaigns
94,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 390 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 174 of 1,131 complaints (15.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 184 | 16.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 175 | 15.5% |
| Steering behavior | 116 | 10.3% |
| Engine operation | 71 | 6.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 55 | 4.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 33 | 2.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 174 |
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs | 82 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 59 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 49 |
| Suspension | 49 |
| Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs | 47 |
| Electrical System | 41 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 40 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 174; Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs: 82; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 59; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 49; Suspension: 49; Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs: 47; Electrical System: 41; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 40
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 35 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 73 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 103 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 112 |
| 150,000 and above | 54 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 35; 50,000 to 74,999: 73; 75,000 to 99,999: 103; 100,000 to 149,999: 112; 150,000 and above: 54
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (112). 741 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 180 |
| 2001 | 233 |
| 2002 | 179 |
| 2003 | 137 |
| 2004 | 101 |
| 2005 | 44 |
| 2006 | 22 |
| 2007 | 16 |
| 2008 | 23 |
| 2009 | 37 |
| 2010 | 57 |
| 2011 | 36 |
| 2012 | 17 |
| 2013 | 12 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2000: 180; 2001: 233; 2002: 179; 2003: 137; 2004: 101; 2005: 44; 2006: 22; 2007: 16; 2008: 23; 2009: 37; 2010: 57; 2011: 36; 2012: 17; 2013: 12; 2014: 9; 2015: 5; 2016: 7; 2017: 8; 2018: 3; 2019: 3; 2022: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 184 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 175 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 116 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10001346 · 2002-12-20 (December 20, 2002)
WHILE BRAKING THERE WAS A CLANKING NOISE IN FRONT END. TOOK VEHICLE TO FORD, FORD REPLACED SUBFRAME BUSHINGS AND TIE ROD ENDS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001346 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002926 · 2003-01-18 (January 18, 2003)
ABS LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY AND RED BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY. WHILE THIS IS HAPPENING, THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER WILL NOT SHUT OFF, AND THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK. THE CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON. THE TURN SIGNALS ARE BLINKING RAPIDLY OR NOT WORKING ON SOME OCCASIONS. MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AS OF LAST YEAR. THE TRANSMISSION HAS ALREADY BEEN REBUILT AND WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHTS NOT GOING OFF AND THE DOOR LOCK MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE AT FIRST THEY WERE LOCKING ON THEIR…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002926 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003938 · 2002-12-21 (December 21, 2002)
NAR 1/15/2003. THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. AFTER NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS, THE SELLING DEALER OFFERED TO BUY THE VEHICLE BACK, BUT THE CONSUMER DECLINED AND INSTEAD CONTINUED TO FORD AND HARASS THE EMPLOYEES TO POINT THAT THEY BECAME DEATH THREATS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003938 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003452 · 2003-01-27 (January 27, 2003)
POWER STEERING PUMP, STEERING CONTROL SYSTEM AND RACK DEFECTIVE HAS TO BE REPLCED, RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED ALREADY WITH ONLY 30,000 MILES
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003452 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005590 · 2003-02-10 (February 10, 2003)
FOR THE SECOND TIME IN ONE YEAR, OUR 1998 FORD WINDSTAR (VIN [XXX]) IS IN NEED OF REPAIR TO CORRECT A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK. I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE TWO SERVICE BULLETINS THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED ON THIS DEFECT (BC3150970219 AND 0156). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005590 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005294 · 2003-02-04 (February 4, 2003)
CAR STALLS AND CUTS OFF WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO STOP - MAKING SHARP TURNS - WHEN COMPLETELY FILLING GAS TANK UP - AT THE HALF WAY POINT ON FUEL GAUGE
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005294 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020536 · 2003-05-26 (May 26, 2003)
TRANSMISSION STALLS DURING DOWN SHIFTING AT LOW SPEEDS. SHIFTS HARD INTO GEAR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD,THREE TIMES HAS BEEN REPAIRED,FIRST TIME @ 32000,3600,65,000. DEALER SAID THAT IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM,BUT THERE IS NO FIX. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020536 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005253 · 2003-02-04 (February 4, 2003)
1998 FORD WINDSTAR; FRONT BRAKES SEEM TO HAVE CONTINUOUS SHIMMY; PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK UNCOOPERATIVE UNLOCKING WITH REMOTE; ENGINE LIGHT OFF/ON OFTEN, DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A REASON; ELECTRICAL PANEL MALFUNCTIONING AFTER 104,000 MILES,(ENGINE LIGHT CONSTANTLY ON, ABS LIGHT ON, TRAC LIGHT CONSTANT FLASHING, AND FUEL GAUGE NOT READING GAS IN TANK)
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005253 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000109 · 2002-12-16 (December 16, 2002)
1998 FORD WINDSTAR. ACCORDING TO DEALER REPAIR DEPT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK CAUSED BY CORROSION RELATING TO THE EMISSION TUBING. HAD TO REPLACE FUEL TANK. REPORTED TO FORD, THEY HAVE NOTHING TO REPORT. DEALER PERSON SAID THEY HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL OF THESE AND THIS IS IN A SMALL RURAL TOWN. TANK WAS BACK ORDERED FOR A MONTH. I WOULD THINK THAT A HOLE IN A GASOLINE TANK WOULD BE HAZARDOUS, AND GIVEN THE STATEMENT OF SEEING SEVERAL OF THESE IN ONE DEALERSHIP PLUS THE BACKORDER SITUATION INDICATES THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 91,334 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000109 at NHTSA ↗