Ford Windstar

Ford Windstar Reviews

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Overall Rating3.9 out of 5
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About Ford Windstar Reviews

The Ford Windstar minivan was sold from 1995-2003, when it was renamed the Ford Freestar, which was discontinued in 2007. Read more Ford reviews to learn about other models.


Ford Windstar Reviews

ConsumerAffairs has collected 206 reviews and 1,041 ratings.

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Page 1 Reviews 0 - 10

Reviewed June 21, 2018

The Ford Windstar is handicap accessible which I need. It helps me be more independent as I don't have to rely on public transportation. It's also fuel efficient which helps in keeping my overall costs down. It also helps in the transport of my elderly parents, makes it easier to load and unload them. I just wish it had electric sliding doors as opposed to opening by hand. This would make it easier to be independent considering my physical limitations. I wish there was an electric starter on it too so it would be warm when I got in it in winter. It doesn't work well in winter and has difficulty starting and driving in snow. I've also had to fix it multiple times due to its age. I've spent nearly half of what it cost me to buy it.

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Reviewed June 13, 2018

My Ford Windstar seats seven people and has four doors. My family can fit in it and my kids love the van. I can open doors on either side. Additionally, it drives good and is safe. It has good tires and low miles. However, I do not like the color red that much and I wish it was a newer van. Furthermore, it would be nice if it had more windows and heated seats.

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    Reviewed July 25, 2017

    In recent months I have been having problems with Warning lights coming on & off on my Dashboard. Mechanic ran tests and nothing was found. A week later the speedometer, tachometer, RPM needle got stuck inside the PRND12 and at times they go haywire. I did some research and found out that this problem has been found in '00, '01, '02, '03 Windstar models. Some say it's Gauge Cluster outer board that is the problem due to cracked solder. I don't understand why Ford hasn't come up with a Recall for this since it affects a great majority of the dashboards of the Windstar models.

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    Reviewed Aug. 17, 2016

    I bought the one owner 2000 3.8 Ford Winstar even after seeing All the Comments about the Transmission PROBLEMS because I've had good luck with ford explorers. It had 131000 miles and ran great well. Right at 137000 there went the Transmission. I went to ford. They said "it's a 2000, what do you expect?" I said "so it doesn't matter that 137000 miles is the life of the Transmission? So I'm gonna try a 2000$ transmission." God be with me because I've seen complaints about multiple transmission problems with these winstar vans. And I've heard the freestars have a recall for transmissions. The Aamaco transmission shop said they see alot of Winstars and hardly any freestars so figure that one out... Mine is a SEL. Thanks Ford... If this doesn't work out I'm Done with Ford...

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    Reviewed March 29, 2016

    I own a 1998 Ford Windstar that should have been taken back by Ford with the LAST recall, wasn't (even the person who worked on this piece of crap was surprised ), now, says the recall wasn't done properly and wants to put yet another band aid on it. This vehicle also has a rotting subframe, which I understand was also a recall but we never heard anything. And from the wall behind the driver's door, which is also rotting out like an old piece of tin, there is what looks like a plastic bag coming out of it! REALLY??? I even posted photos on Twitter and only told we've made a file. Whoopie! Now, I have emailed the CEO, direct. THREE TIMES! Nothing. I have posted on Twitter, publicly, and doesn't seem to mean anything.

    This vehicle has been parked. I don't dare drive it any longer. In fact, I had left it at a family home in NY for a few months, came back to get it, and I don't dare drive it back. It won't make it with that frame and the band aid that they want to put on the axle. And I can't afford to buy another car, so I am stranded right now. If Ford would have taken the thing back with the last recall, I could have had something different. But now, if they do a puny couple thousand dollar buyback, I'm just as screwed as I am now.

    To be honest, I'm at the point where Ford needs to take this thing back (and it has some other problems now, but I was told between axle recall and subframe, it isn't worth fixing), and let me get the used vehicle of my choice! This last axle recall put me over the top. Ford has basically told me, by this, that I was still driving an unsafe van, and that it should have been take back by Ford when they were taking them back. And with the subframe?

    I really don't want to have to go to an attorney on this. I don't want to sue for huge sums or go to court. But I do want Ford to do right by me. With the first axle recall, I would have accepted a buyback, but for some reason, it was decided not to do so, and now, I am screwed. (As bad as the frame rot is, I'm sure they should have seen that at the time as well.) I depend on my vehicle and right now, I don't have one... one that is safe anyway. Even friends wouldn't ride in it. And I'd like to go back home soon! Too bad your CEO didn't have the nerve to respond to my direct emails. Guess I will contact Mr. Ford himself next.

    Oh... and this is the first vehicle I have ever owned that has rusted out like it was made of an old tin can, the first vehicle I have owned that will NOT hit 100,000 miles and the first vehicle that I can't even wash because the paint falls off! And the inside can be like a light show. Lights go on and off, van can lock itself, windows sometimes don't close, cruise control quit years ago and ALL these problems, I find, are typical of the Windstar. Thanks Ford but I have a feeling this complaint won't mean anything either. Just as letters and Twitter posts haven't. If I could give negative stars on this, I would!

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    Reviewed Jan. 6, 2016

    I purchased a new Ford Windstar new in July 4, 2002 with hardly any km. on it. Ford sent recall letters for the rear axle and fixed my ABS as well as fixed the axle. I have no complaints and taken good care and proper maintenance every 6000 km. with oil changes etc. This is my first new van and I really enjoyed driving the Windstar LX with lots space. I have driven it only 84000 km. in almost 12 years now the speedometer, tachometer, RPM needle which get stuck inside the PRND12 and other things act haywire. I replaced my cluster and am still having the same issue after only having replaced by mechanic after few months. I have also read from other Ford Windstar owners with the same problem from 1999 to 2003 and on youtube this cluster issue more in common and not just axle and subframe cluster. Have there been recalls by Ford to fix? The problem seems mostly in Windstar so common why is there no recall?

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    Reviewed Dec. 1, 2015

    2 yrs ago purchased a 2000 Ford Windstar. 2nd hand car dealer fixed issues we noticed prior to purchase. No problem there. Had "check engine" light on like, forever, replaced 3-o2 sensors. Light still on but I can live with that. Suddenly, out of the blue, starts running majorly rough. Took it in to mechanic, they found leak on intake manifold, changed spark plugs, supposedly checked catalytic converter, says all engine okay that they could see. Pay bill. Still runs rougher than blazes. They say I need a new engine. Already did new tires, o2 sensors, windshield wiper box, new battery, plus what was done above. Incl. purchase price, up to approx. $4000.00 not counting typical oil changes. Motor runs "uber" rough, idles "hi" drives "rough" then "better", then "rough".

    When you get up to speed it seems to run "not as rough" but when you have to stop and start it runs rough again. Since then have noticed tons of articles on web, not seen prior to purchase other than o2 sensors, about problems with vehicle. Just haven't come across this problem as "yet". I am older person on Federal disability (CPD) so $$ is definitely an issue. I don't have any form of pension fund to draw from to fix these problems all the time as they continue to crop up.

    Should have stayed with older vehicle that didn't look as nice or newer than what I've had in the past. Haven't had it in to a Ford Dealer as yet. Feel it's important to say that, it's just that they charge exuberant prices and that's why. So, I guess if anyone has any inkling as to what this rough running could be I'd appreciate an answer, and pray it's not a new motor or an expensive fix. I am afraid the whole van will come to a screeching halt on me one day in the middle of the road. I had thought it may be the driveshaft but then found that on a fwd they use what's called a "transaxle" so that is what I'll be checking out on the web next.

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    Reviewed July 23, 2015

    I have had this 2000 Ford Windstar for 1 year and there seems to be so much wrong with this vehicle. We barely passed safety and emissions last year, and this year we did not. The dash has a mind of its own. We never know how much gas we have, or how fast we are going. It could take ten minutes to start our car because the key does not want to turn. The lights inside turn on and off when they want, the back windows are broken, the side door wiring is bad, and the AC makes a clicking noise when it is all the way cold. Why doesn't Ford buy all of their cars back? I know my car is not the only one experiencing this.

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    Reviewed July 3, 2015

    It starts with a driver side window malfunction. It keeps blowing off fuse (but passenger side window is okay). The cd/radio is dead. The fuse keeps blowing off when replaced. All interior lights not goes off when turned off the engine (I had to pull out the lamp manually not to drain the battery). The ECM module got replaced, it helps only one day but next day it does the same. The engine/abs/brake light on all the time. Mileage: 72000. Running is fine. Transmission is fine. Original owner of this Windstar. Can you please help the electric problem? Any information to share? Thank you.

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    Reviewed May 20, 2015

    I have a 99 Windstar and it runs good but the dash goes crazy all the time. I can't trust this van at all. I am afraid to drive it out of town. The tach goes crazy, the speedometer has a mind of its own. Can't trust the gas gauge or temp gauge, the cooling fan only works when it wants. I just wish Ford would buy these junk vans back and burn them.............

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    Ford Windstar Company Information

    Company Name:
    Ford Windstar
    Website:
    www.ford.com