Problems · NHTSA complaints

2000 Ford Windstar problems

Owners filed 1,675 complaints about the 2000 Ford Windstar with NHTSA between Nov 1999 and Jun 2025. The most-cited component is suspension (356).

Complaints
1,675
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
62
Reported by owners
Fires
55
Reported by owners
Injuries
61
People reported injured
Deaths
3
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Suspension356
  2. Power train270
  3. Electrical system222
  4. Structure215
  5. Service brakes, hydraulic204
  6. Vehicle speed control138
  7. Service brakes124
  8. Engine and engine cooling91
  9. Steering72
  10. Visibility66
  11. Latches/locks/linkages52
  12. Service brakes, electric51
  13. Air bags31
  14. Fuel system, gasoline30

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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19991
200077
200188
200295
2003119
200491
200586
200640
200735
2008116
2009154
2010329
2011101
201285
201364
201469
201547
201626
201724
20185
201914
20202
20212
20220
20233
20241
20251

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Suspension

356 reports12 crashes1 fire4 related recalls
“The rear axle broke for the second time on a Ford Windstar, after already breaking prior to a recall in 2010. It appears to have broken where a clamp was attached. This caused the rear wheels to fall into, and grind against the wheel well. This happened on a side street near my house. Had it happened at highway speeds, the rear wheels could have locked up or perhaps broken free causing loss of control. The axle problem has been known to Ford, but it is concerning that this is the second one to fail. I have not yet contacted ford or a a repair facility to evaluate. There were no warning lamps or other indication. The axle simply broke abruptly. I thought it was a tire blow out until I saw the wheels tilted in. The vehicle is older, but I maintain it well.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 28, 2024Suspension, WheelsODI 11590976

Power train

270 reports8 crashes7 fires1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE REAR AXLE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO WESTLAND FORD (LOCATED AT 3450 WALL AVE, OGDEN, UT 84401, (801) 629-5500) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INSPECTED REGARDING NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V193000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 16366106. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 212,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 15, 2018Power trainODI 11151741

Electrical system

222 reports4 crashes15 fires1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2000 Ford Windstar. The contact stated the vehicle failed to start, and the rear glass was out of the frame by about three-quarters of an inch. Additionally, the front driver's and passenger’s side windows failed to go up or roll down and were inoperable. The contact also stated that the instrument panel and anti-theft system were inoperable. The service engine, anti-theft, overdrive, speedometer, ABS system, and door ajar warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 00V351000 (Electrical System) and 00V020000 (Visibility). The contact called the dealer and was referred to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and confirmed there were no associated recalls with the VIN and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 11, 2025Electrical system, Visibility, EngineODI 11666369

Structure

215 reports5 crashes1 related recall
“WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY MY REAR AXLE BROKE I SAFETY MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER BUT WHILE DOING THAT MY TIRE BLEW AND LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE HIGH WAY. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 13, 2020StructureODI 11324389

Service brakes, hydraulic

204 reports11 crashes4 fires
“2000 FORD WINDSTAR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM MODIFICATION RECALL NOTICE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER HE RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IDLING CORRECTLY. THE DEALER STATED THE WORK PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE IMPROPER IDLING ISSUE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE VEHICLE HAD A VACUUM LEAK, AROUND THE MASTER CYLINDER. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 9, 2014Service brakes, hydraulic, Vehicle speed controlODI 10577697

Vehicle speed control

138 reports11 crashes20 fires2 related recalls
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS INOPERABLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS REPLACED A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 22, 2016Vehicle speed controlODI 10908693
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.