Problems · NHTSA complaints

2002 Ford Windstar problems

Owners filed 1,396 complaints about the 2002 Ford Windstar with NHTSA between Jul 2001 and Feb 2026. The most-cited component is service brakes, hydraulic (327).

Complaints
1,396
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
47
Reported by owners
Fires
52
Reported by owners
Injuries
56
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Service brakes, hydraulic327
  2. Suspension289
  3. Electrical system263
  4. Service brakes233
  5. Vehicle speed control150
  6. Power train107
  7. Structure104
  8. Service brakes, electric83
  9. Air bags40
  10. Steering36
  11. Exterior lighting29
  12. Engine and engine cooling29
  13. Visibility27
  14. Wheels26

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
20011
200220
200334
200424
200530
200620
200753
2008121
2009167
2010271
2011117
2012121
201386
2014109
201566
201638
201731
201830
201920
202017
20215
20223
20237
20242
20252
20261

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

Service brakes, hydraulic

327 reports5 crashes16 fires
“APPROX., A YEAR AGO MY ABS MODULE WENT BAD AND I HAD IT CHECKED BY A MECHANIC TO VERIFY THAT FACT. JUST RECENTLY MY SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH WENT BAD AND LEAKED,. NOW I FOUND OUT THERE IS A CONNECTION BETWEEN BOTH THE SWITCH AND THE ABS BAD MODULE. FORD DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL ON THE ABS SYSTEM, BUT THEY DO ON THE ABOVE SWITCH. VERY POSSIBLY THE HIGH COST OF THE MODULE HAS KEPT THEM FROM HAVING A RECALL!!! I HAVE READ COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM FROM ANOTHER FORD VAN OWNER. ALSO THE SWITCH WAS CHANGED APPROX. 5 YEARS AGO AND IT WENT BAD AGAIN.( PER A FORD RECALL THEN) THERE SHOULD BE A DEFINITE RECALL ON WINDSTAR VAN ABS SYSTEMS AND AS A SAFETY ISSUE---FORD SHOULD REPLACE THE SWITCH AND WIRE HARNESS AGAIN! ..UPDATED 08/12/14 *BF”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 4, 2014Service brakes, hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Service brakesODI 10618844

Suspension

289 reports7 crashes7 fires4 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 11V030000 (STRUCTURE) and 15V608000 (SUSPENSION). The contact stated that while approaching a traffic signal and driving slowly, the vehicle shook, and the engine shifted. The contact stated that the engine shifted to the right. In addition, the contact lost control of the steering wheel. The contact stated that the RPMs became elevated. The contact pulled over into a parking lot and turned off the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle, and upon inspection, became aware that the subframe had detached and was dragging. The contact believed that the motor mounts were fractured. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic, and the vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle remained at the tow yard unrepaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline to report the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 108,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 24, 2026Suspension, StructureODI 11720212

Electrical system

263 reports2 crashes19 fires
“Manufacture Recall # 09S09 NHTSA Recall # 09V399000 Instrument cluster has become faulty. Details listed below. Overdrive (O/D) light will randomly start flashing for no reason ABS will randomly engage Parking brake light will randomly turn on Speedometer with become sporadic Transmission has trouble shifting gears due to tachometer becoming sporadic Vehicle will randomly try to die/stall out at a prolonged stop or while coming to a stop, even after all charging components have been replaces i.e. battery, alternator, drive belt, and cables.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 19, 2025Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11655566

Service brakes

233 reports3 crashes2 fires
“ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. I DO NOT HAVE ABS FUNCTION WHILE THE LIGHTS ARE ON AND IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN IN WARMER WEATHER. WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF IT RESETS AND DOESN'T COME BACK ON UNTIL DRIVEN A FEW MILES AGAIN. ACCORDING TO SEVERAL FORUMS, THIS SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING ON A LARGE AMOUNT OF FORD WINDSTAR'S SIMILAR TO MINE OR ASSEMBLED IN CANADA.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 26, 2020Service brakesODI 11385072

Vehicle speed control

150 reports4 crashes14 fires1 related recall
“The gauges are acting crazy which causes the engine to jerk or the transmission and then it starts making the lights flicker in the interior and the gauges start sticking. It seems to make the overflow on the radiator to empty more because it is causing the sensors in the electrical for the parts to go crazy and run hot. Sometimes it only does it every so often but after getting the reserve hose on the power steering that connects to the reservoir to the coolant the battery was drained. Then going after getting it charged down the highway it caused the interior lights radio and seat and turn signals not to work when coming to a complete stop and it was idling the dashboard and all the lights were coming back on once given a guess it winded up not working again causing the battery to become hot or warm and acid you can smell in the air like rotten eggs. It is causing the overflow tank of the radiator to evaporate more or come out quicker and it is causing other component parts to react strangely which I'm afraid will cause a fire in the vehicle and the idling is not correct also on it now”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 29, 2022Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11495403

Power train

107 reports6 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact lost control of the vehicle and drove off the side of the roadway. The vehicle was later towed to the local mechanic who discovered that the rear axle had fractured due to severe rust. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not notified. The failure mileage was 125,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 17, 2023Suspension, Power trainODI 11507869
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.