Ford WINDSTAR problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
11,838 owner complaints analyzed
33 distinct recall campaigns
101,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1985 to 2005 model years. Data snapshot: . 6,660 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1,095 of 11,838 complaints (9.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3,812 | 32.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1,353 | 11.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 660 | 5.6% |
| Steering behavior | 628 | 5.3% |
| Engine operation | 304 | 2.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 187 | 1.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1095 |
| Electrical System | 1082 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1071 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 963 |
| Service Brakes | 929 |
| Suspension | 832 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 647 |
| Suspension:Rear | 551 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1,095; Electrical System: 1,082; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1,071; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 963; Service Brakes: 929; Suspension: 832; Vehicle Speed Control: 647; Suspension:Rear: 551
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 230 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 444 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 969 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1514 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2396 |
| 150,000 and above | 1107 |
Under 25,000: 230; 25,000 to 49,999: 444; 50,000 to 74,999: 969; 75,000 to 99,999: 1,514; 100,000 to 149,999: 2,396; 150,000 and above: 1,107
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2,396). 5,178 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 159 |
| 1996 | 110 |
| 2000 | 1309 |
| 2001 | 1101 |
| 2002 | 962 |
| 2003 | 768 |
| 2004 | 611 |
| 2005 | 363 |
| 2006 | 234 |
| 2007 | 230 |
| 2008 | 621 |
| 2009 | 755 |
| 2010 | 1513 |
| 2011 | 702 |
| 2012 | 542 |
| 2013 | 426 |
| 2014 | 502 |
| 2015 | 313 |
| 2016 | 179 |
| 2017 | 149 |
| 2018 | 77 |
| 2019 | 90 |
| 2020 | 37 |
| 2021 | 30 |
| 2022 | 16 |
| 2023 | 21 |
| 2024 | 9 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 3 |
1995: 159; 1996: 110; 2000: 1,309; 2001: 1,101; 2002: 962; 2003: 768; 2004: 611; 2005: 363; 2006: 234; 2007: 230; 2008: 621; 2009: 755; 2010: 1,513; 2011: 702; 2012: 542; 2013: 426; 2014: 502; 2015: 313; 2016: 179; 2017: 149; 2018: 77; 2019: 90; 2020: 37; 2021: 30; 2022: 16; 2023: 21; 2024: 9; 2025: 6; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3,812 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1,353 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 660 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 504046 · 1996-05-04 (May 4, 1996)
BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED FOUR TIMES.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504046 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 878925 · 2001-01-24 (January 24, 2001)
FRONT BRAKE PROBLEM; WHEN STEPPING ON BRAKE PEDAL BRAKES MADE A LOUD RATTLING NOISE . CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER HAS ALREADY ROTATED ROTORS, AND PUT NEW BRAKE PADS. BUT, PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED .*AK ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 878925 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10214510 · 2008-01-11 (January 11, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD JAYCO. THE VAN CAUGHT FIRE WHILE OFF AND PARKED. THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY THE FIRE DEPT. BUT NOT THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND IS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. THE TRANSMISSION TYPE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000. UPDATED 02-14-08. *KB GARY FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT. UPDATED 02/14/08 *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10214510 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008025 · 2003-02-24 (February 24, 2003)
I HAD TO REPLACE THE SECOND STOCK RIM ON MY 1995 FORD WINDSTAR. I HAVE NEVER HAD A RIM LEAK AIR ON ANY OTHER CAR THAT I HAVE OWNED AND WAS QUITE AGRIVATED TO LEARN FROM THE WHEEL SHOP OWNER THAT HE HAS DONE AROUND 30 SUCH REPLACEMENTS THIS YEAR. ALL ON FORD WINDSTARS. NO OTHER MANUFACTURE OR MODEL. I REALIZE THAT THE 1995 WINDSTAR WAS THE WORST YEAR FOR FORD WINDSTARS, BUT AFTER HAVING TO PUT UP WITH HEADGASKET BLOWOUTS AT 58,000 MILES, TRANSMISSION BLOWOUTS AT 70,000 AND ASSORTED OTHER ELECTRICAL FAILURES, THE WHEELS SEEM ANOTHER REDICULOUS MA…
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008025 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032417 · 2003-08-07 (August 7, 2003)
THE VAN BEGAN MAKING A "STATIC/PING-PING" SOUND. WHILE VAN WAS SHUT OFF THE HEAD LIGHTS REMAINED ON WITH SWITCH OFF. THE VAN BEGAN SMOKING WHILE OFF. FIRE BEGAN TO CONSUME THE VAN WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OPENED THE HOOD AND DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. THE FIRE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10032417 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010475 · 2003-03-14 (March 14, 2003)
ABS LOCKS AND VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP. HAVE SPENT OVER $2000 TRYING TO FIX BRAKING ISSUE. TONE RINGS, STRUTS, SUSPENSION, FRONT BRAKES, REAR BRAKES, BEARINGS, CV JOINTS, MASTER CYLINDER, AMONG OTHER REPLACEMENTS. OVER BUMPS, SMALL HILLS, STRAIGHT ROADS, ANYTIME COMING TO A STOP, VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO STOP COMPLETELY. HAVE PUMPED BRAKES AND FOUND THAT BRAKE PEDAL GETS HARD AND LOUD, STILL DOES NOT HELP TO STOP VEHICLE. STEERING WHEEL FEELS LOOSE AT WHEN THIS HAPPENS. BRAKE PEDAL ALSO KICKS BACK, SOMETIMES WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE, MAKES A LO…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010475 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014235 · 2003-04-10 (April 10, 2003)
THE FRONT AREA OF MY VAN MAKES LOUD POPPING NOISES WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES AND/OR TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS MAINLY IN THE SUMMER MONTHS OR TIMES WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS WARMER. THIS PROBLEM BEGAN ABOUT A YEAR TO A YEAR AND A HALF AFTER I BOUGHT THE VAN WHEN IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS TODAY. I HAD TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THE DEALER SAID THE POPPING NOISE WAS THE BRAKE CYLINDERS EXPANDING ONTO THE PADS TO STOP THE VAN. IT IS ODD THOUGH BECAUSE THE FRON…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014235 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 744314 · 2001-04-20 (April 20, 2001)
THIS TRUCK HAS ALWAYS HAD TROUBLE STARTING. WHEN DAMP OR COLD IT WONT START AT ALL. THE FUEL PUMP RELAY ALWAYS SHORTS OUT, COSTING ME $17.35 EVERYTIME IT RAINS OR IS DAMP. THE TRUCK WILL FINALLY START AFTER DRYING OUT THEN THE TRANSMISION WHEN PUT IN DRIVE WILL NOT MOVE UNTILL THE TRUCK IS WARM.REPLACED THE TRANS. AND IT STILL IS A PROBLEM. THE STARTER RELAY WENT BAD LAST WEEK COSTING ME 217 DOLLARS. THE TRUCK STALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTIONS AND YOU HAVE TO PUT IT IN NUETRAL AT STOP LIGHTS AND REV THE ENGINE TO KEEP IT FROM STALLING..I…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 744314 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055815 · 2004-01-26 (January 26, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 114,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055815 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 481197 · 1995-01-20 (January 20, 1995)
FUEL TANK AUXILLARY SELECTOR SWITCH FAILED AFTER RECALL REPAIRS DUE TO CHECK VALVE NOT BEING INSTALLED IN REAR TANK DURING INITIAL REPAIRS. (89V-141) *AW
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481197 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 0 |
| 1991 | 0 |
| 1992 | 0 |
| 1993 | 0 |
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1995 | 6 |
| 1996 | 8 |
| 1997 | 5 |
| 1998 | 11 |
| 1999 | 11 |
| 2000 | 15 |
| 2001 | 15 |
| 2002 | 8 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 0 |
| 2005 | 0 |
1990: 0; 1991: 0; 1992: 0; 1993: 0; 1994: 0; 1995: 6; 1996: 8; 1997: 5; 1998: 11; 1999: 11; 2000: 15; 2001: 15; 2002: 8; 2003: 8; 2004: 0; 2005: 0