Owners have filed 12 complaints
about the 1993 Ford Windstar with NHTSA between 1996 and 2008.
The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
Across this model's run it ranks 9 of 12 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 0
Against the median year of the Ford Windstar. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 86
16.7% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1993 Ford Windstar
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Engine & Cooling
541.7%
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 97,000 mi
Brakes
325.0%
Child Seats
18.3%
Suspension
18.3%
Airbags
18.3%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Transmission & Drivetrain
18.3%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jul 1996peak 2Jan 2008
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 100,000 milesGary, INFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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
NHTSA complaint #10214510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Centerville, INCrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DRIVING ALONG APPROXIMATELY 30MPH, VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF US AND HIT ON DRIVER'S SIDE. THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK AND HELD PASSENGERS IN PLACE AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.
NHTSA complaint #806378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 100,000 milesGary, INFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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
NHTSA complaint #10214510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 94,000 milesNorth Branford, CT
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
3.8L HEAD GASKET
NHTSA complaint #10069327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hamburg, NY
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
LEFT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE, SHREDDING THE TIRE. DEALER HAS REPLACED COIL SPRING AND TIRE.*AK. CONSUMER STATED AS HE PUT THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE COIL SPRINGS.
NHTSA complaint #8013348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Elgin, IL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO FLOOR. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #8009874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bronx, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
FORD KNOWS THAT THESE HEAD GASKETS HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE. THEY HAVE HAD A RECALL BUT ONLY FROM 1994 AND ONLY MADE IN A CERTAIN PLANT.
NHTSA complaint #737461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Port, MA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ALUMINUM ENGINE HEAD GASKETS ARE SEPARATING AND LEAKING, ALLOWING COOLANT AND OIL TO MIX, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THESE ENGINES ARE RECALLED IN THE 94-95 MODELS, BUT NOT IN THE 93 MODEL WITH THE SAME ENGINE. OWNER HAS RECEIVED NO HELP FROM FORD. *AK
NHTSA complaint #858506 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Maryville, MI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET ON A 3.8L ENGINE; NOTICED LOTS OF COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER CONSUMER WITH SAME PROBLEM. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #854197 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North East, PA
CHILD SEAT
INTEGRATED CHILD SAFETY SEAT IS DESIGNED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE SAFETY HARNESS IS TOO SHORT AND TIGHT. FORD AGREES THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #546711 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Coatesvill, PA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
ABS, BRAKE FAILURE, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE FRONT END PULSATE, AND HAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, IN FOR REPAIR AND REPLACED DISC PADS AND ROTORS.
NHTSA complaint #807822 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Coatesvill, PA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
ABS, BRAKE FAILURE, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE FRONT END PULSATE, AND HAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, IN FOR REPAIR AND REPLACED DISC PADS AND ROTORS.
NHTSA complaint #807822 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Centerville, INCrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DRIVING ALONG APPROXIMATELY 30MPH, VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF US AND HIT ON DRIVER'S SIDE. THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK AND HELD PASSENGERS IN PLACE AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.
NHTSA complaint #806378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bloomfield, NJ
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED WHILE DRIVING AND WILL GO UP HILL WHEN APPLYING ACCELEATOR WILL NOT PICKUP SPEED.
NHTSA complaint #986884 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.