Across the 8 model years we’ve synced, NHTSA lists 92 recall campaigns and 11,740 owner complaints for the Ford Windstar. The 1998 model year has the most complaints (2,283).
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Crashes | NCAP overall | MPG comb. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 9 | 1,510 | 33 | Not rated | 18 | |
| 2002 | 9 | 1,396 | 47 | Not rated | 18 | |
| 2001 | 16 | 1,717 | 67 | Not rated | 18 | |
| 2000 | 16 | 1,675 | 62 | Not rated | 17 | |
| 1999 | 13 | 1,547 | 52 | Not rated | 17 | |
| 1998 | 14 | 2,283 | 98 | Not rated | 19 | |
| 1997 | 6 | 208 | 6 | Not rated | 18 | |
| 1996 | 9 | 1,404 | 61 | Not rated | 18 |
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 1,404 |
| 1997 | 208 |
| 1998 | 2,283 |
| 1999 | 1,547 |
| 2000 | 1,675 |
| 2001 | 1,717 |
| 2002 | 1,396 |
| 2003 | 1,510 |
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 1998-2003 Windstar vehicles manufactured September 2, 1997, to July 3, 2003. The affected vehicles were previously remedied to safeguard against the rear axle cracking from corrosion, however, the remedy brackets may have been misinstalled. The incorrect bracket installations may limit the effectiveness of the service repair for NHTSA recalls 10V-385, 12V-193, and 12V-195.
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 1997, THROUGH JULY 3, 2003, REGISTERED IN PUERTO RICO. DUE TO INCREASED STRESSES CAUSED BY HIGH CYCLES OF TORSIONAL LOADING, SPECIFIC TO THIS MARKET, THE REAR AXLE CAN CRACK.
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 1997, THROUGH JULY 3, 2003, AND CURRENTLY REGISTERED OR ORIGINALLY SOLD IN VIRGINIA. OVER TIME, CORROSION CAN WEAKEN THE REAR AXLE MAKING IT SUSCEPTIBLE TO TORSIONAL STRESS. CORROSION AND STRESS CAN LEAD TO CRACKS WHICH, IF UNDETECTED, CAN INCREASE AND RESULT IN A COMPLETE FRACTURE OF THE AXLE.