Problems · by component

2000 Ford Windstar power train problems

270 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2000 Ford Windstar cite power train, 16% of all 1,675 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
270
16% of all complaints
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
7
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND THE ABS SENSOR INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE SERVICE, THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 7, 2017Suspension, Power train, Service brakesODI 11013430
“COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AFTER OD LIGHT IS FLASHING. FROM MY RESEARCH , THIS IS A COMMON WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AND FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE TRANSMISSIONS. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO HAVE A VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOP ACCELERATING WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED OR WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. I WAS PULLING ONTO A BUSY HIGHWAY AT NIGHT WHEN MY TRANSMISSION FAILED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 4, 2017Power trainODI 10983426
“MY GRANDSON(4YEAR OLD)AND I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM BANK ON 15 APRIL 2017,THEN SUDDENLY ON PURITAN AVE THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRE STARTED TO RUB FRAME AND SMOKE ENTERED VEHICLE ,I GOT OUT TO CHECK AND NOTICE THE REAR AXLE ON DRIVERS SIDE WAS CRACKED AND TIRE WAS LEANING IN AND RUBBING FRAME BECAUSE OF CRACKED AXLE. I WAS 2 BLOCKS FROM HOME, SO I DROVE HOME VERY SLOWLY ,ONCE HOME I MADE ONLINE APPOINTMENT TO TAKE CAR TO DEALERSHIP WHICH WAS FOR 17APRIL 2017 AT SUBURBAN FORD OF FERNDALE 21600 WOODWARD AVE FERNDALE,MI 48220 TEL: 248-399-1000. I HAD TO CALL AAA MICHIGAN AND HAVE VAN TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND ONCE THERE THE SERVICE PERSONELL TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE VAN REPAIRED BECAUSE THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED IN 2015 THEY DID'NT EVEN INSPECT TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG JUST ASSUMED ,SO I SHOWED HIM THE RECALL LETTER WHICH HE SAID IT DON'T MATTER SO I HAD TO HAVE VAN TOWED BACK HOME WHERE IT SITS NOW, I WASSHOCKED AND HARDEN BY THE RUDE TREATMENT OF THE DEALERSHIP, SO I CALL FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS MYSELF AND THAT RECALL WAS ONLY FOR A RE-INSPECTION,JUST SAD HOW I WAS TREATED,I'M A DISABLED VETERAN AND…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 18, 2017Power trainODI 10978979
“UNDER RECALL# 15S27, FORD HAS DECLINED TO REPLACE REAR AXLE WITH AT REDUCED COST. (SEE ATTACHED RECALL NOTICE.) THIS REAR AXLE CORROSION PROBLEM WAS PERSISTENT IN THIS MODEL.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 11, 2017Power trainODI 10960135
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY CORRODED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE TO THE REAR, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION TO SEPARATE FROM THE SUB FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 21, 2016Power train, Structure, EngineODI 10821426

Showing 6 of 270 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

Power train: axle assembly

Free remedy

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1998-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 1997, THROUGH JULY 3, 2003, AND CURRENTLY REGISTERED OR ORIGINALLY SOLD IN VIRGINIA. OVER TIME, CORROSION CAN WEAKEN THE REAR AXLE MAKING IT SUSCEPTIBLE TO TORSIONAL STRESS. CORROSION AND STRESS CAN LEAD TO CRACKS WHICH, IF UNDETECTED, CAN INCREASE AND RESULT IN A COMPLETE FRACTURE OF THE AXLE.

Power trainReported May 3, 2012NHTSA 12V193000
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.