3,104 of the
19,460 complaints filed about the Ford Windstar
are about the engine —
16% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1995.
The contact owns a 2000 Ford Windstar. The contact stated the vehicle failed to start, and the rear glass was out of the frame by about three-quarters of an inch. Additionally, the front driver's and passenger’s side windows failed to go up or roll down and were inoperable. The contact also stated that the instrument panel and anti-theft system were inoperable. The service engine, anti-theft, overdrive, speedometer, ABS system, and door ajar warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 00V351000 (Electrical System) and 00V020000 (Visibility). The contact called the dealer and was referred to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and confirmed there were no associated recalls with the VIN and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
NHTSA complaint #11666369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Manufacture Recall # 09S09 NHTSA Recall # 09V399000 Instrument cluster has become faulty. Details listed below. Overdrive (O/D) light will randomly start flashing for no reason ABS will randomly engage Parking brake light will randomly turn on Speedometer with become sporadic Transmission has trouble shifting gears due to tachometer becoming sporadic Vehicle will randomly try to die/stall out at a prolonged stop or while coming to a stop, even after all charging components have been replaces i.e. battery, alternator, drive belt, and cables.
NHTSA complaint #11655566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 1999 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel started pulling to one side, almost causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the motor mounts were damaged and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance because the vehicle was not under Warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
NHTSA complaint #11594421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle was wobbling uncontrollably and almost caused an accident. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle had been diagnosed by an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that the rear axle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 142,000.
NHTSA complaint #11546076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Going down the road car starts to sputter and then we'll cut off while driving and black smoke goes every dangerous it's happened twice already got it checked says nothing
NHTSA complaint #11519086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The gauges are acting crazy which causes the engine to jerk or the transmission and then it starts making the lights flicker in the interior and the gauges start sticking. It seems to make the overflow on the radiator to empty more because it is causing the sensors in the electrical for the parts to go crazy and run hot. Sometimes it only does it every so often but after getting the reserve hose on the power steering that connects to the reservoir to the coolant the battery was drained. Then going after getting it charged down the highway it caused the interior lights radio and seat and turn signals not to work when coming to a complete stop and it was idling the dashboard and all the lights were coming back on once given a guess it winded up not working again causing the battery to become hot or warm and acid you can smell in the air like rotten eggs. It is causing the overflow tank of the radiator to evaporate more or come out quicker and it is causing other component parts to react strangely which I'm afraid will cause a fire in the vehicle and the idling is not correct also on it now
NHTSA complaint #11495403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
GOING DOWN THE ROAD TRACTION CONTROL WILL GO OFF AND ON . IT WILL MAKE THE STEERING VERY HARD. THEN WHEN YOU TURN THE ENGINE OFF. IT IS VERY HARD TO START UP . SOME TIMES YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR ABOUT TWO OR THREE HOURS THEN IT WILL START RIGHT UP. THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM IS VERY BAD. SOMETIMES WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL STARTS TO HAVE A PROBLEM THE VAN IS VERY HARD TO EVEN KEEP IT IN CONTROL I'M DISABLED AND CAN'T AFFORD TO GET A BETTER VAN. I'VE TRIED TO TAKE IT BACK TO FORD BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT. ALL THEY TALE ME IS TO GET ANEW ONE .BUT I CAN'T. THE POWER ON THE DOOR LOCKS ARE BAD THE LOCKS WILL GO LOCKED AND UNLOCK AS YOU DRIVE IT DOWN THE ROAD. BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT. 3 YEARS. OR MORE. HAD IT IN TO FORD MANY TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #11384006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, WHITE SMOKE EMERGED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND THEN IT BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DEEMED THE VEHICLE DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,000.
NHTSA complaint #11266713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OVERNIGHT AND WAS DRIVEN HOME THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #11245845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING AND APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, A LOUD NOISE OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT COULD NOT GAIN CONTROL OR STOP THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AND THE CONTACT QUICKLY SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE ENGINE REVVED HIGH. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF THE ENGINE AGAIN, EXITED THE VEHICLE, OPENED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS SHREDDED. ALSO, THE METAL PULLEYS WERE CRACKED IN SEVERAL PARTS AND SOME WERE MISSING. THE CONTACT NOTICED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE THAT THE MOTOR, SUBFRAME, AND MUFFLER WERE LAYING ON THE GROUND. A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED AND THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME GAVE OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S MOTHER'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V030000 (STRUCTURE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
NHTSA complaint #11245856 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WAS ON THE STREET DRIVING, LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING ON DASHBOARD VAN SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, BLEW OUT, WAS DRIVING AGAIN VAN WAS ILDE UP REALLY BAD AND WHILE MY FEET WAS ON THE BRAKES IT STARTED MOVING ON ITS OWN AND RAN INTO SOMEONE ELSE VEHICLE, AND ALSO VAN WAS ON THE ROAD STARTED RUNNING BAD BROKE DOWN ON A BUSY STREET ONCE I WAS PUSHED TO A SAFE LOCATION ALL MY FLUIDS WERE ON THE GROUND AND THE VAN WAS SMOKING REALLY BAD AND LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD WERE FLASHING.
NHTSA complaint #11120027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2001 FORD WINDSTAR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEALERSHIP STATES VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE SWAYS UNCONTROLLABLY.
NHTSA complaint #10919634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE STATIONARY, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT ENGINE CRADLE OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE HOLES IN THE ENGINE CRADLE. MATTHEWS FORD OREGON IN OREGON, OHIO WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
NHTSA complaint #11055474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS BACKING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN MY FORD WINDSTAR 2003 ENGINE STARTED REVVING AND I HAD TO PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BREAKS TO STOP THE CAR FROM RUNNING OUT OF CONTROL. AFTER I PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES TO RELEASE THE ENGINE FROM REVVING DID IT STOP. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE SAME DAY AND IT TOOK ALL MY STRENGTH TO STOP THE FORD WINDSTAR 2003 MODEL. IT COULD HAVE DONE A LOT OF DAMAGE EITHER TO ANOTHER CAR OR A PERSON. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND THIS PROBLEM HAS TO BE CORRECTED OR PUT ON A RECALL BASIS BEFORE OTHER PEOPLE WHO MIGHT HAVE THE PROBLEM, CAN EITHER GET IT FIXED OR TAKEN OFF THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #10889166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE RADIATOR AND WATER PUMP WENT BAD AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AS I WAS DRIVING. THE ELECTRICAL LOCKS ON THE DOORS LOCKS US IN REGULARLY, WHILE DRIVING IT OFTEN SLIDES ON IT'S OWN. THERE'S A GOOD BIT OF THINGS GOING ON WITH MY CAR THAT I DON'T KNOW ABOUT TO TELL YOU ABOUT.
NHTSA complaint #10863591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SENSOR HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
NHTSA complaint #10854829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY CORRODED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TO THE REAR, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION TO SEPARATE FROM THE SUB FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
NHTSA complaint #10821426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE RECEIVED ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHERE THE BATTERY, THE WATER PUMP, AND THE ENGINE BELT WERE REPLACED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.
NHTSA complaint #10818097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.