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U.S. public vehicle records

2001 Ford WINDSTAR problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1,686 owner complaints analyzed

15 distinct recall campaigns

108,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 1,333 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the most frequently named component, appearing in 223 of 1,686 complaints (13.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior72142.8%
Transmission and shifting1036.1%
Electrical and battery issues895.3%
Steering behavior855.0%
Engine operation231.4%
Fuel system concerns150.9%

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.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
223
Electrical System
201
Service Brakes
193
Suspension
188
Suspension:Rear
151
Structure:Frame And Members
141
Vehicle Speed Control
100
Steering
57
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Service Brakes, Hydraulic223
Electrical System201
Service Brakes193
Suspension188
Suspension:Rear151
Structure:Frame And Members141
Vehicle Speed Control100
Steering57

Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 223; Electrical System: 201; Service Brakes: 193; Suspension: 188; Suspension:Rear: 151; Structure:Frame And Members: 141; Vehicle Speed Control: 100; Steering: 57

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
32
25,000 to 49,999
72
50,000 to 74,999
173
75,000 to 99,999
300
100,000 to 149,999
516
150,000 and above
240
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00032
25,000 to 49,99972
50,000 to 74,999173
75,000 to 99,999300
100,000 to 149,999516
150,000 and above240

Under 25,000: 32; 25,000 to 49,999: 72; 50,000 to 74,999: 173; 75,000 to 99,999: 300; 100,000 to 149,999: 516; 150,000 and above: 240

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (516). 353 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.

2001
35
2002
52
2003
45
2004
69
2005
54
2006
42
2007
53
2008
142
2009
159
2010
377
2011
164
2012
105
2013
99
2014
104
2015
75
2016
31
2017
27
2018
11
2019
19
2020
5
2021
9
2022
3
2023
6
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
200135
200252
200345
200469
200554
200642
200753
2008142
2009159
2010377
2011164
2012105
201399
2014104
201575
201631
201727
201811
201919
20205
20219
20223
20236

2001: 35; 2002: 52; 2003: 45; 2004: 69; 2005: 54; 2006: 42; 2007: 53; 2008: 142; 2009: 159; 2010: 377; 2011: 164; 2012: 105; 2013: 99; 2014: 104; 2015: 75; 2016: 31; 2017: 27; 2018: 11; 2019: 19; 2020: 5; 2021: 9; 2022: 3; 2023: 6

Pattern summary

Service Brakes, Hydraulic leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 721 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 103 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 89 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 10010200 · 2003-03-09 (March 9, 2003)

I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT. AFTER I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, THE SEAT BELT POPPED OFF. I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. ALTHOUGH THE CAR WAS DRIVABLE, THE SEAT BELT REMAINED LOCKED AND UNUSABLE AFTER THE ACCIDENT. *NLM RQ04011.*PCO

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010200 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10011746 · 2003-04-04 (April 4, 2003)

AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR SEAL HAD TO BE INSTALLED, THE SEAT BUCKLES AND REAR WIPER MOTOR COVER WERE REPLACED, THE ABS FAILED, AND RIGHT BEFORE THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD ILLUMINATED, AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, SPEED SENSOR AND BRAKE SENSOR FAILED. *PH *JB RQ04011.*PCO

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011746 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10000251 · 2002-12-19 (December 19, 2002)

WE HAVE LEASED A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR AND HAVE HAD IT FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS, TAKING OUT 15,000 MILES PER YEAR. SEVERAL DAYS AGO, WE COULD NOT MOVE THE CAR AFTER WE STOPPED AT A LIGHT. WE FINALLY HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AT OUR EXPENSE AND FOUND OUT THAT THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN "BLOWN." (ONLY AFTER 40,000 MILES.) WE FELT THAT OUR SAFETY WAS AT STAKE, SINCE NO WARNING SIGNS WITHIN THE VAN, TOLD US THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTED AND WE WERE AT A MAJOR INTERSECTION, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SOME SERIOUS INJURIES.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000251 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10032725 · 2003-08-13 (August 13, 2003)

VECHICLE ACCELARATION WHEN FOOT IS OFF GAS. PUMPING GAS PEDAL DID NOT STOP THIS ACTION. PUMPING BRAKES OR PRESSING HARD ON BRAKES DO NOT STOP ACTION. ONLY PLACING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THEN SHIFTING BACK INTO DRIVE STOP THIS ACTION. WAS ON MERRITT PARKWAY IN CT WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE FOR THIS VECHILE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 52,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032725 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10006909 · 2003-02-10 (February 10, 2003)

THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO HAVE NO LIGHTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006909 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10011237 · 2003-03-10 (March 10, 2003)

THE POWER STEERING HOSE FAILED.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011237 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10034442 · 2003-08-25 (August 25, 2003)

CONSUMER NOTICED ANY SPEED VEHICLE WOULD STALL DUE TO ANTI THEFT DEVICE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034442 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10042830 · 2003-10-14 (October 14, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING INTERMITTENTLY ENGINE WOULD STALL, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND REPLACED DIFFERENT PARTS, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10042830 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10050945 · 2003-12-22 (December 22, 2003)

OVER THIRTY SEPARATE WARRANTY REPAIRS OVER TWO YEARS. FAULTY ELECTRICAL DOOR LOCKS (KIDS COULDN'T EXIT), TRANSMISSION LEAKAGE, TRANSMISSION FAILURE, FRONT-END DEFECTS WITH LOUD THUMPING NOISES AND SEVERAL BODY PROBLEMS. MOST NOTABLE BODY PROBLEMS ARE WIND NOISE AND WATER LEAKAGE THROUGH DOORS AND WINDOWS. MOST RECENTLY, THE FUEL PUMP FAILED (@ 37,000 MILES). FORD HAS ALL ALONG REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEMS. NOW THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, THEY HAVE AGAIN SAID THEY WILL NOT DOING ANYTHING. THE VEHICLE IS UNRELIABLE AND UNSAF…

Owner-reported narrative. 37,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050945 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10059663 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)

FAILURE IN GAS TANK WHICH LED CONSUMER TO BELIEVE THAT IT WAS A DESIGN FAILURE. *LA THE FUEL PUMP/FUEL FILTER ASSEMBLY RUBBED ON THE GAS TANK FROM THE INSIDE WHEN THE TANK WAS FULL, WHICH CAUSED THE GAS TANK TO HAVE A PIN HOLE LEAK, WITH THE LEAK THE SYSTEM WAS UNABLE TO PRESSURIZE, WHICH CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10059663 at NHTSA ↗