Problems · by component

1998 Ford Windstar exterior lighting problems

36 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Ford Windstar cite exterior lighting, 2% of all 2,283 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
36
2% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the exterior lighting

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I NEEDED THE STARTER REPLACED, MY BRAKES, I'M HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES, MY CAR STOPS WHEN IT WANTS TO IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY,.. IT MAKES NOISES WHEN I'M TURNING, I HAVE RUST COMING FROM UNDER MY CAR. THE SIGNAL LIGHTS FLICKERS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 25, 2017Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Unknown or otherODI 11010660
“WE HAVE OUR EXPEDITION FOR A WHILE AND WE KNOW THE PEOPLE WHO OWNED IT BEFORE US. WHILE IT IS RAINING AND DAYS AFTER THE POWER TO THE TRUCK DOES NOT TURN OFF. THE RADIO WILL TURN ON, THE BLOWER FOR HEAT OR AIR WILL KEEP BLOWING, THE LIGHTS WILL TURN ON, THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WILL STOP, ABS WILL STOP, AND THE WIPER BLADES WILL NOT WORK. SO BECAUSE THE ELECTRICAL ITEMS WILL TURN ON AT RANDOM, THEY DRAIN THE BATTERY AND THE TRUCK WILL NOT START THE NEXT DAY. WE FOUND OUT THAT DUE TO MANUFACTURING ERROR, THE WINDSHIELD LEAKS WATER INTO THE GENERAL ELECTRIC MODULE. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THE PART NOT ONLY EXPENSIVE, BUT IF YOU BUY ONE AND IT DOES NOT WORK, IT IS NOT RETURNABLE. AND THAT WAS TOLD TO US BY MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS. SO BASICALLY FORD KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 17, 2014Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiperODI 10572858
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING FLICKERED. THE READING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES BEGAN TO FLUCTUATE RANDOMLY AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 8, 2013Exterior lightingODI 10496835
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION OF THE SUB FRAME WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINES WERE ALSO FOUND TO BE CORRODED. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE SUB FRAME FAILURE AND DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE SUB FRAME WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,000. THE TIE RODS, FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED WITHIN ONE YEAR OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. THE WHEEL CYLINDERS, BRAKE ADJUSTERS, SPRING KIT, DRUMS, ROTORS, SHOES, AND PADS ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE TURN SIGNAL LEVEL STOPPED WORKING FOR THE LEFT SIDE. WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, IT WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THEN PULSATED BACK UP, AND THEN THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. UPDATED 02/01/12”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 13, 2011Steering, Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulic, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, StructureODI 10439715
“VEHICLE IS A 1998 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING THE WINDSHIELD WASHER,SEAT BELT,AND DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF. WHILE THIS IS HAPPENING THE WIPER BLADES STOP WORKING,POWER WINDOWS WILL NOT OPERATE AND ON A FEW OCCASIONS THE HEADLIGHTS WILL BLINK WITH THE WARNING LIGHTS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS AN OLD VEHICLE BUT I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. NOT JUST RESTRICTED TO THIS YEAR. IT IS ALSO AN ISSUE THAT HAPPENS JUST AFTER A FEW YEARS OF SERVICE. I WOULD THINK THAT WIPER BLADES MALFUNCTIONING DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WOULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 27, 2010Electrical system, Exterior lighting, VisibilityODI 10327719
“FIRST, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND RUNNING LIGHTS WOULD NOT POWER OFF WHILE ALL DOORS WERE CLOSED, DOOR AJAR INDICATOR WAS ON. TOOK TO DEALER PROBLEM RESOLVED FOR A MONTH OR SO. NOW NEED TO SPRAY WD40 ON LATCHES RELIGIOUSLY. DEALER ALSO REPLACED CRUISE CONTROL HARNESS AT THIS TIME. THEN CAME THE RADIO AND HEATER RUNNING WITH THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. BEEPS AND CLICKS AND BAD SMELLS COMING FROM UNDER DASH. AGAIN TO THE DEALER, NO CODES FOUND FOR THE ISSUES I WAS HAVING. BATTERY DRAINING OCCURRING FREQUENTLY NOW AND NO RESOLUTION. I NOW HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY EVERYNIGHT. NOW WHEN I DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD I GET THE MANY FAILURE LIGHTS FLASHING ON THE DASH, THE WINDOWS WON'T WORK, SPEEDOMETER FAILS, TRUCK LOSES POWER AND THE TRANSMISSON SHIFTS STRANGELY. I WAS HOURS FROM HOME AND DOING 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN EVIDENCING DECIDED TO NOT WORK AT THE SAME TIME. THEN I REALIZE THAT THIS IS OCCURRING ONLY WHEN IT RAINS OR IS VERY WET OUT. AND I WAS TRULY AFRAID FOR MY LIFE AND THE OTHERS THAT WERE ON THE ROAD WITH ME. I HAD TO DRIFT ACROSS A LANE OF TRAFFIC WITH NO POWER TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK AND PUT MY HEAD DOWN, WHEW, AND THE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 28, 2010Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Visibility, Latches/locks/linkages, Interior lightingODI 10303088

Showing 6 of 36 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

Exterior lighting

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS, LIGHT PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. OFF LEASE CANADIAN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WHICH MEET CANADIAN REQUIREMENTS AND NOT THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." ACCORDING TO FORD, THE VEHICLES WERE IMPORTED INTO THE U.S. ERRONEOUSLY.

Exterior lightingReported Jun 19, 2000NHTSA 00V168000
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.