Problems · by component
1998 Ford Windstar air bags problems
34 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Ford Windstar cite air bags, 1% of all 2,283 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
34
1% of all complaints
Crashes
26
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
22
Reported by owners
What owners say about the air bags
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT ROLLED OVER MULTIPLE TIMES. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD, SHOULDER, AND HIP INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE CRASH SCENE AND WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 198,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HIS VEHICLE HEAD ON AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LOWER BACK AND CHEST, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DECLARED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000. *TR”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH WHEN THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000. UPDATED 12/01/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND AIR BAG ALSO FAILED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THEY WERE ALL CONNECTED THROUGH THE STEERING COLUMN THROUGH WIRING. UPDATED 12/09/10”
“HORN & AIR BAG, MY HORN WILL NOT BLOW AND THE AIR BAG WILL LIGHT IS ON AND IT STAY`S ON WHICH MEANS IT IS NOT WORKING . THE HORN I TRIED TO HAVE SOME ONE LOCATE THE PROBLEM AND THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE LOCATED . *TR”
“I WAS DRIVING MY 1998 FORD WINDSTAR WITH 5 PASSENGERS, AND MYSELF AS THE DRIVER. WE REAR ENDED A CAR ON THE LEFT FRONT BUMPER. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, THAT IS A QUESTION FOR MYSELF. MY 4YR OLD IN BACKSEAT DIRECTLY BEHIND ME SITS IN A HIGH BACK BOOSTER, NOT USING THE 5 PT HARNESS. HE IS IN A REGULAR SHOULDER/LAP BELT. UPON IMPACT MY CHILD FLEW FORWARD SLAMMING INTO MY SEAT AND HAVING HIS GLASSES ALSO FLY FORWARD OFF OF HIS FACE. QUESTION ON SEAT BELT. PLEASE HELP!!!!!*AK”
“VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION OF 35 MPH AND NEITHER FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WAS REPORTED AT THIS TIME AND THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NM THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE IS EXPERIENCING SOME ON GOING LIGAMENT AND NERVE DAMAGE IN HER BACK AND NECK. *TC”
Showing 6 of 34 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.