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Problems · by component

1996 Ford Windstar suspension problems

111 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1996 Ford Windstar cite suspension, 8% of all 1,404 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

All 1996 Windstar problems
Complaints
111
8% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the suspension

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 1, 2011SuspensionODI 10379894
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AT LOW SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD AN UNUSUALLY LOUD NOISE. WHEN FURTHER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINES WAS BEING PINCHED BY THE SPRINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND THAT REPAIRS WOULD BE AT HIS EXPENSE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 164,954.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 14, 2010SuspensionODI 10336148
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE CAUSING THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE TO COLLAPSE. THE COIL SPRING TRAVELED THROUGH THE SIDEWALL OF THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 169,105.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 31, 2010SuspensionODI 10323050
“FRONT SWAY BAR IS FOUND TO BE HOLLOW AND BROKE IN HALF ON PASSENGERS SIDE. FORD SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE REPAIR COST SINCE THEY WERE AWARE THAT THEY WOULD NOT HOLD UP IN SALTY AND SNOWY CONDITIONS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 13, 2007SuspensionODI 10208869
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RIGHT CONTROL ARM OF THE REAR AXLE HAS SPLIT IN HALF. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHIFT. THE FAILURE HAS CAUSED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL TO SHIFT BACK THREE INCHES. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO CALL NHTSA. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 1, 2007SuspensionODI 10198144
“1996 FORD WINDSTAR COIL SPRING WAS FOUND BY NON-FORD DEALER MECHANIC TO BE BROKEN IN HALF AND CAUSING BANGING NOISE IN FRONT END. FORD DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM, BUT BOTH COIL SPRINGS AND STRUTS WERE EVENTUALLY REPLACED BY NON-FORD MECHANIC BEFORE I WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT FORD'S RECALL ON THE COIL SPRINGS. AM I ENTITLED FOR REIMBURSEMENT BY FORD FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIR BILL? *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 14, 2006SuspensionODI 10155342

Showing 6 of 111 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Suspension: coil springs

Free remedy

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1995-1998 FORD WINDSTAR MINIVANS. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS COULD POTENTIALLY FRACTURE DUE TO CORROSION. NOTE: THE 1997-1998 WINDSTAR MINI VANS ARE ALSO COVERED BY NHTSA SAFETY RECALL 01V-199/FORD RECALL 01S19. THE MINI VANS COVERED BY THE SAFETY RECALL WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SuspensionReported Jul 12, 2001NHTSA 01I007000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 9, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.