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U.S. public vehicle records

2000 Ford WINDSTAR problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1,674 owner complaints analyzed

15 distinct recall campaigns

104,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 1,152 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 172 of 1,674 complaints (10.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior54032.3%
Transmission and shifting19911.9%
Electrical and battery issues1016.0%
Steering behavior764.5%
Engine operation321.9%
Fuel system concerns110.7%

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.

Electrical System
172
Suspension:Rear
156
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
148
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
131
Suspension
129
Service Brakes
124
Vehicle Speed Control
105
Structure:Frame And Members
92
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System172
Suspension:Rear156
Power Train:Automatic Transmission148
Service Brakes, Hydraulic131
Suspension129
Service Brakes124
Vehicle Speed Control105
Structure:Frame And Members92

Electrical System: 172; Suspension:Rear: 156; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 148; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 131; Suspension: 129; Service Brakes: 124; Vehicle Speed Control: 105; Structure:Frame And Members: 92

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
39
25,000 to 49,999
101
50,000 to 74,999
152
75,000 to 99,999
224
100,000 to 149,999
452
150,000 and above
184
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00039
25,000 to 49,999101
50,000 to 74,999152
75,000 to 99,999224
100,000 to 149,999452
150,000 and above184

Under 25,000: 39; 25,000 to 49,999: 101; 50,000 to 74,999: 152; 75,000 to 99,999: 224; 100,000 to 149,999: 452; 150,000 and above: 184

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (452). 522 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.

2000
77
2001
88
2002
95
2003
119
2004
91
2005
86
2006
40
2007
35
2008
116
2009
154
2010
329
2011
101
2012
85
2013
64
2014
69
2015
47
2016
26
2017
24
2018
5
2019
14
2020
2
2021
2
2023
3
2024
1
2025
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
200077
200188
200295
2003119
200491
200586
200640
200735
2008116
2009154
2010329
2011101
201285
201364
201469
201547
201626
201724
20185
201914
20202
20212
20233
20241
20251

2000: 77; 2001: 88; 2002: 95; 2003: 119; 2004: 91; 2005: 86; 2006: 40; 2007: 35; 2008: 116; 2009: 154; 2010: 329; 2011: 101; 2012: 85; 2013: 64; 2014: 69; 2015: 47; 2016: 26; 2017: 24; 2018: 5; 2019: 14; 2020: 2; 2021: 2; 2023: 3; 2024: 1; 2025: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 540 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 199 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 101 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 10001975 · 2003-01-15 (January 15, 2003)

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. AS CONSUMER MERGED WHILE ACCELERATING IN THE PASSING GEAR, THE SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH BUT RAPIDLY CLIMBING. CONSUMER TOOK HIS FOOT OFF THE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING, WHICH MADE A LOUD MAXIMUM RPM ENGINE SOUND. THERE WAS A DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF THE PEDAL, AS IF THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON, THE CONSUMER STOMPED THE PEDAL, BUT IT WOULDN'T STOP. THE POWER STEERING AND THE POWER BRAKES WENT OFF WITH THE ENGINE. (COASTING AT 85 MPH WITH NO BRAKES OR POWER STEERING) SCC *JB…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001975 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10004491 · 2003-01-10 (January 10, 2003)

CONSUMER TRANSMISSION FAILED ON THE BAY BRIDGE. NAR 1-22-03 THE CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HESITATE FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD ON 2 OCCASIONS IT WAS NORMAL. THE ABS LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE RELAY. THE WINDSHIELD WASHER WARNING LIGHT HAD COME ON, THE WASHER BOTTLE HAD TO REPLACED. THE VEHICLE ALSO SHUDDERED WHILE BRAKING. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 37,502 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004491 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10000941 · 2003-01-11 (January 11, 2003)

THE TRANSMISSION IN OUR VEHICLE, A 2000 FORD WINSTAR SEL, WENT ON US WHILE DRIVING THE ON A BUSY SIX LANE ROAD. THE VEHICLE DOES HAVE 68,000 MILES ON IT. HOWEVER, I'VE PRODUCED MAINTENANCE RECORDS FOR FORD AND THE DEALERSHIP WHICH CLEARLY SHOW WE'VE FOLLOWED FORD'S MAINTENANCE RECOMMENDATIONS; INCLUDED HAVING THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP (AT 42,000). THIS SEEMS TO BE ONE EXAMPLE IN A LONG LINE OF FORD TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WHEN WILL THE NHTSA, OR ANOTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY, FINALLY STEP IN AND CONFRONT FORD? TS

Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000941 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10001335 · 2002-12-20 (December 20, 2002)

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH WITHOUT ANY INDICATION ENGINE INDICATION LIGHT FLASH SPEED DROP AND OVER DRIVER LIGHTS STARTED BLINKING. DEALER WAS CONTACTED TECHICIAN NOTICE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACE TRANSMISSION IS ON THE THIRD REPAIR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001335 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10021867 · 2003-07-02 (July 2, 2003)

THE SLIDING DOORS WOULD UNLATCH ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. THE ELECTRICAL DOORS WERE CONTROL BY REMOTE. THE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 7 TIMES FOR THE PROBLEM BEFORE HAVING THE SLIDING DOOR REPAIRED. NOW THE DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR IS HAVING THE SAME UNLATCHING PROBLEM. A CHILD SITS ON THE OUTBOARD POSITION WHERE THE SLIDING DOORS ARE UNLATCHING. *AK THE REAR SUSPENSION WAS READJUSTED, THE VEHICLE HAD VARIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS THE ABS LIGHT, THE THEFT FLASHING LIGHT, AND THE SPEEDOMETER. PH *…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021867 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10026328 · 2003-09-02 (September 2, 2003)

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AND THE BRAKES MADE NOISE. THE BATTERY AND WIPERS FAILED ON THE SAME DAY. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BUT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS. *AK *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026328 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10001337 · 2002-12-20 (December 20, 2002)

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER STEERING. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND REPLACE STEERING RACK PUMP AND PULLEY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001337 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10007162 · 2003-02-12 (February 12, 2003)

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 59,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007162 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10016110 · 2003-04-17 (April 17, 2003)

THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016110 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10049604 · 2003-12-11 (December 11, 2003)

AFTER AND WHILE RAINING THERE AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF WATER IS GETTING INTO THE FUEL TANK FROM THE FUEL FILLER DOOR. THIS IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL FREQUENTLY OR NOT START AT ALL. AFTER A COUPLE OF BOTTLES OF DRY GAS ARE ADDED THE STALLING IS STOPPED UNTIL MORE WATER GETS INTO THE GAS TANK. THERE IS NO TYPE OF WEATHERSTRIPPING AROUND THE FUEL FILLER DOOR THAT PREVENTS MOISTURE FROM COMING INTO THE FUEL FILLER AREA AND THERE IS ALWAY WATER THERE AFTER RAIN OR SNOW. I HAVE GONE TO SEVERAL FORD DEALERSHIPS TO LOOK AT SIMILAR FORD WINDSTARS AN…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10049604 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10050706 · 2003-12-18 (December 18, 2003)

WE HAVE OWNED THIS 2000 FORD WINDSTAR SINCE FEBRUARY OF 2002. I HAVE LOST COUNT OF HOW MANY TIMES WE HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF THE POOR GAS MILEAGE. IT WAS GETTING 13 MPG AND THE DEALER SAID THAT WAS NORMAL. BUT OVER THE PAST 3 MONTHS WE HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER 8 TIMES BECAUSE OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE UPPER/LOWER INTAKE GASKETS, FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER, FUEL LINE, MASS OXYGEN FLOW SENSOR, BOTH O2 SENSORS, VALVE COVER GASKETS, AND A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS TOO. THE GAS MILEAGE ACTUA…

Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050706 at NHTSA ↗