2002 Ford WINDSTAR problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,353 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
103,330 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 1,119 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the most frequently named component, appearing in 259 of 1,353 complaints (19.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 810 | 59.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 113 | 8.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 46 | 3.4% |
| Steering behavior | 46 | 3.4% |
| Engine operation | 15 | 1.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 0.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 259 |
| Electrical System | 235 |
| Service Brakes | 233 |
| Suspension | 171 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 129 |
| Suspension:Rear | 87 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 83 |
| Power Train | 44 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 259; Electrical System: 235; Service Brakes: 233; Suspension: 171; Vehicle Speed Control: 129; Suspension:Rear: 87; Service Brakes, Electric: 83; Power Train: 44
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 44 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 52 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 154 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 261 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 410 |
| 150,000 and above | 198 |
Under 25,000: 44; 25,000 to 49,999: 52; 50,000 to 74,999: 154; 75,000 to 99,999: 261; 100,000 to 149,999: 410; 150,000 and above: 198
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (410). 234 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 18 |
| 2003 | 33 |
| 2004 | 24 |
| 2005 | 18 |
| 2006 | 18 |
| 2007 | 34 |
| 2008 | 117 |
| 2009 | 166 |
| 2010 | 270 |
| 2011 | 117 |
| 2012 | 121 |
| 2013 | 86 |
| 2014 | 109 |
| 2015 | 66 |
| 2016 | 38 |
| 2017 | 31 |
| 2018 | 30 |
| 2019 | 20 |
| 2020 | 17 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2002: 18; 2003: 33; 2004: 24; 2005: 18; 2006: 18; 2007: 34; 2008: 117; 2009: 166; 2010: 270; 2011: 117; 2012: 121; 2013: 86; 2014: 109; 2015: 66; 2016: 38; 2017: 31; 2018: 30; 2019: 20; 2020: 17; 2021: 5; 2022: 3; 2023: 7; 2024: 2; 2025: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 810 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 113 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 46 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 10008062 · 2003-02-25 (February 25, 2003)
ON THE DATE OF THE INCIDENT, I ENGAGED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD DEFROST BUTTON ON THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY STALLED, AND I LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. AFTER THAT, EVERY TIME THE SAME BUTTON WAS PUSHED, THE ENGINE STALLED. THIS IS THE SECOND SUCH OCCURRENCE, THE LAST TIME WAS IN APRIL, 2002 WHEN ENGAGING THE AIR CONDITIONER CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008062 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009784 · 2003-03-04 (March 4, 2003)
WHEN THE VEHICLES BRAKES WERE APPLIED THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE. *NLM *TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009784 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043640 · 2003-10-27 (October 27, 2003)
DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT OPEN AND CLOSE ALL THE TIME. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED THREE TIMES TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND ALL REPAIR ATTEMPTS HAVE FAILED TO DATE.*AK OVER THE 18 MONTH PERIOD WE HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE, WE HAVE HAD THE DRIVERS POWER SEAT REPAIRED, MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL SHORTS FIXED, VCP SYSTEM REPAIRED TWICE, AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER MORE MINOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES FIXED. THE QUALITY OF THIS 2002 FORD WINDSTAR LIMITED HAS BEEN VERY POOR.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10043640 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051739 · 2003-12-18 (December 18, 2003)
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE FIRE STARTED FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD. FIRE DEPARTMENT INDICATED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051739 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10117265 · 2005-04-25 (April 25, 2005)
WHEN BRAKING AT ANY SPEED STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED HEAVILY. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE FRONT ROTORS/PADS, BUT THIS DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK HAD TO CHANGE WIPER BLADES ONE WEEK LATER, THEY WERE ROTTEN. TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, HAD TO DRIVE IN 2ND GEAR ALL THE TO THE DEALER, ALSO HAS A STRONG CLUNKING WHILE PUTTING VEHICLE INTO ANY GEAR. *BF
Owner-reported narrative. 22,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10117265 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10118758 · 2005-04-30 (April 30, 2005)
TRANSMISSION IN OUR 2002 FORD WINDSTAR MINI VAN MADE ABNORMAL NOISES FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP OF PURCHASE FOR INSPECTION, AND THEY ATTRIBUTED THE PROBLEM TO TIRE AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH ALIGNMENT. ALSO, TRANSMISSION NOISE PERSISTED,AND VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP. AGAIN NOTHING WA S FOUND WRONG ON INSPECTION WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO RETURN LATER FOR MORE COMPLETE EXAMINATION. ON FEBRUARY 10, 2005 TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED ACCELERATING THE ENGINE TO 3200 RPMS WITH A SPEED OF 70…
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118758 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011761 · 2003-04-04 (April 4, 2003)
WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER AND WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER WERE TURNED ON THE ENGINE SEIZED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE AIR CONDITION COMPRESSOR TWICE. PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 812 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011761 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10082558 · 2004-07-23 (July 23, 2004)
WHEN COMING TO A STOP SIGN ENGINE STALLED. LOST STEERING AND BRAKES. USED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP VAN. STUCK IN MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION. VAN WAS STILL IN DRIVE. PUT VAN IN PARK AND WAS ABLE TO START VAN FINE. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT EVER CAME ON. DEALER CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082558 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10330951 · 2010-05-18 (May 18, 2010)
EVERYTIME I FEEL MY GAS TANK UP IT SPITS GAS OUT AT ME. I CRINGE AT THE THOUGHT OF PUMPING GAS. I LET IT GO PRETTY LOW BEFORE RESORTING TO A GAS SHOWER. AS SOON AS I START PUMPING (S L O W L Y) IT WILL START IMMEDIATELY. THERE'S MORE GAS ON THE GROUND THEN IN MY TANK! SO PATHETIC! *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10330951 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10372791 · 2010-12-23 (December 23, 2010)
2002 FORD WINDSTAR LX. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH BRAKE SYSTEM *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS, ENGINE GASKET AND FUEL INJECTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10372791 at NHTSA ↗