Problems · NHTSA complaints
1996 Ford Windstar problems
Owners filed 1,404 complaints about the 1996 Ford Windstar with NHTSA between Dec 1995 and Oct 2015. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (472).
Complaints
1,404
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
61
Reported by owners
Fires
46
Reported by owners
Injuries
56
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling472
- Power train319
- Service brakes, hydraulic214
- Suspension111
- Electrical system82
- Vehicle speed control82
- Steering48
- Fuel system, gasoline44
- Wheels41
- Structure36
- Visibility36
- Air bags26
- Tires23
- Seat belts18
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
43
98
89
156
246
265
180
129
70
45
25
11
12
8
11
5
3
4
0
3
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 1 |
| 1996 | 43 |
| 1997 | 98 |
| 1998 | 89 |
| 1999 | 156 |
| 2000 | 246 |
| 2001 | 265 |
| 2002 | 180 |
| 2003 | 129 |
| 2004 | 70 |
| 2005 | 45 |
| 2006 | 25 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2008 | 12 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 11 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 3 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine and engine cooling
472 reports4 fires
“I PURCHASED A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR VAN 3.0 L IN JUNE 2010. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE FROM DAY 1 TO CURRENT MOST DANGEROUS IS THE BLOWING SPARK PLUG WHICH HAS BLOWN OUT 2 TIMES FORCING ME TO DRIVE IT TO A PLACE WHERE IT COULD BE PARKED FOR REPAIR FIRST TIME BLOW OUT WAS 7 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE REPAIRED BY A MECHANIC NOW 2000 MILES LATER AGAIN BLEW OUT FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES FOR IGNORING SUCH A HUGE HAZARD THIS COULD SERIOUSLY IGNITE FUEL FUMES AND CAUSE A MAJOR FIRE, EXPLOSION WHILE SOME ONE IS DRIVING WITH THERE CHILDREN TO FIND A REPAIR SHOP UNAWARE OF THE DANGER AND DAMAGE THIS COULD CAUSE, SECOND ISSUE IS A FAILING SHIFTING MODULE OR TRANNY AND THIS HAS HAPPENED ALOT DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VANS TRANSMISSION SHIFTS TO A 1ST OR 2ND GEAR CAUSING EXTREME CHANGE IN SPEED AND IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WE HAVE ALMOST BEEN REARENDED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THIS ISSUE, VESSIL MUST BE PULLED OVER AND TRANS RESET BY SHIFTING TO PARK AND SOMETIMES SHUTTING OFF THE VEHICLE AND STARTING IT AGAIN.FORD DEALER GAVE US A 3000. ESTIMATE TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AND TOLD US WE WOULD CONTINUE TO REPLACE TRANS APROX EVERY 70,000 MILES THIS IS A CHUMP WAY…”
Power train
319 reports6 crashes1 fire2 related recalls
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE ABOVE 20 MPH. THE SERVICE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
214 reports15 crashes6 fires2 related recalls
“HAD CHANGED BRAKE PADS A WEEK EARLIER. DRIVING 55MPH AND THE CAR CRASHED DOWN ON IT'S AXLE AS THE TIRE AND WHEEL PASSED BY US GOING DOWN HIGHWAY, IN 37 NORTH. STUDS HAD ALL BROKEN OFF. THE DISC BRAKE IS RUINED FROM SKIDDING ON IT. TRAFFIC WAS MODERATELY HEAVY. WE SKIDDED TO A STOP ON A BRIDGE AND FEEL LUCKY NOT TO HAVE CRASHED INTO ANYONE. *TR”
Suspension
111 reports2 crashes1 related recall
“I BROUGHT KIDS TO SCHOOL AND I WAS PULLING OUT. I HEARD A NOISE AND MY TIRE WENT FLAT. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME. MY HUSBAND CHECKED IT OUT AND FOUND THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND STABBED THE TIRE. I SAW THERE WAS A RECALL SO HOPEFULLY IT IS STILL COVERED BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE 100.00 TO FIX SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY BEEN RECALLED. *LN”
Electrical system
82 reports1 crash19 fires
“THIS IS A SECOND CALL FOR HELP FORD CORPORATE WILL NOT EMAIL ME BACK. WILL NOT VERIFY IF PCM HAS BEEN UPDATED. THE VAN ONLY HAS UNDER 59,000 MILES ON IT . IT SHOULD NOT BREAK THIS BAD THIS SOON MAKES ME TELL ANYONE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND OUR LOCAL NEWS MEDIA AND CLARK HOWARDS TEAM. I DO NOT WANT TO CALL FORD UNLESS IT IS AGREED THE PHONE WILL BE RECORDED FOR COURT PURPOSES. I EVEN ASKED IS THE WOULD LET ME USE THE UPDATER. I SURE DO NOT WANT DON RICH FORD IN VILLA RICA EVER AGAIN. THEY STRIPPED THE SCREW. THAT SET MIN CLEARANCE ON THROTTLE PLATE. NO SHIFTS FUNNY AND SPUTTERS AND TERRIBLE NOISE IN OIL PAN AREA. ROD S KNOCKING. INTERNET HAS TONS OF COMPLAINTS OF PISTONS EXITING ENGINE OIL PAN. *TR”
Vehicle speed control
82 reports5 crashes17 fires1 related recall
“FORD RECALL LETTER DATED DECEMBER 2011 RECALL NUMBER 09 S 09 SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM MODIFICATION. I RECENTLY TOOK MY FORD WINDSTAR ON JANURARY 3, 2013 FOR A RECALL. ABOUT A MONTH LATER I DROVE OVER RAILROAD TRACKS AND NOW THE VEHICLE IS SLOW AND WON'T PICK UP SPEED IT MAKES A PUT PUT SOUND AND HAS ALMOST NO POWER. I CALLED THE DEALER TO REPORT THE ISSUE AND THEY WANT $90.00 JUST TO LOOK AT IT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS JUST IN THE SHOP FOR THE RECALL. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER COMPLAINT AND ALL THEY SAY IS THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FORD DEALER ACTIONS OR INACTIONS. THE LETTER FROM FORD WAS THE MAIN REASON I TOOK THE VAN IN BECAUSE IT SAYS THERE IS A FIRE HAZARD BUT NOW THE VAN IS A PIECE OF JUNK. FORD REFUSES TO RECHECK THE VEHICLE AND LOCATE THE REAL CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM THE VEHICLE IS THE ONLY WAY FOR ME TO GET AROUND. THANKS FORD FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND LACK OF CONCERN. SIGNED DISSATIFIED VICTIM OF A SCAM. *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.