2004 Ford WINDSTAR: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
24 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
123,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 23 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 24 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 16.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 12.5% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 12.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 12.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 6 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Suspension:Rear | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
Suspension: 6; Electrical System: 3; Engine: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Power Train:Axle Assembly: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Suspension:Rear: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 6
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 1 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 2; 2010: 4; 2011: 4; 2012: 2; 2013: 3; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 2; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10177334 · 2006-12-29 (December 29, 2006)
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HEARD A NOISE FROM THE BRAKES THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO REPAIRED THE BRAKES BY SANDING DOWN THE ROTORS. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONTACT THAT FORD HAS CHANGED THE MATERIALS THAT WERE USED TO MAKE THE ROTORS. ALSO, THE DEALER TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THIS FAILURE OCCURRED BECAUSE HE DIDN'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE OFTEN. *AK UPDATED 1/30/2007 - *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10177334 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10201596 · 2007-08-31 (August 31, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACTS OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR CAUSED THE FAILURE AND THEY MADE THE REPLACEMENT, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE GASKET WAS THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. AS OF AUGUST 31, 2007, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 86,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10201596 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10229900 · 2008-06-04 (June 4, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. THE FAILURE CAUSED FUSES TO BLOW OUT IN THE CRUISE CONTROL AND ABS MODULES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE ABS MODULE STILL NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 209,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 159,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10229900 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10295064 · 2009-12-09 (December 9, 2009)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH SHE HEARD A PECULIAR NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SHE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND THEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIMMY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE REAR AXLE. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 123,500 UPDATED 01/1410 *BF THE REAR AXLE WAS RUSTED FROM INSIDE OUT AND CRACKED 3/4 OF THE WAY…
Owner-reported narrative. 123,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10295064 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10295340 · 2009-12-11 (December 11, 2009)
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY & SUDDENLY LOST POWER, ALTHOUGH ENGINE WAS STILL ON. TOWED TO DEALER & TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 101,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10295340 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10317060 · 2010-03-05 (March 5, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR WHILE DRIVING AT 20MPH SHE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND SHE ALSO HEARD AN EXPLOSION. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND SHE SAW THAT THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER HOME. THE PERSON WHO TOWED THE VEHICLE FOUND THAT REAR AXLE BROKE IN HALF WHICH PUNCTURED THE LEFT REAR TIRE CAUSING IT TO BLOW. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE IS OVER ONE HUN…
Owner-reported narrative. 123,005 miles reported. Look up ODI 10317060 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10342792 · 2010-07-12 (July 12, 2010)
FAILURE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. SLIGHT NOISE FROM VEHICLE WHICH WAS NOT IDENTIFIED. DRIVING DOWN ROAD TOTAL LOSS OF MOTION WITHIN SECONDS WITH NO SIGN OF DEFECT OR SOUND WHICH PUT MY WHOLE FAMILY IN DANGER. THE TRANSMISSION IS BROKE AND WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED BUT HAS NOT YET BEEN DONE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 97,001 miles reported. Look up ODI 10342792 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10344020 · 2010-07-19 (July 19, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE 3 MPH THE REAR AXLE BROKE IN HALF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE REAR AXLE BEAM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 153,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 153,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10344020 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.