Ford Windstar

While driving (luckily at only 25 mph), the rear axle broke on my van. I had already taken it into an authorized dealer for recall "repair" which in my opinion, failed. The axle broke mid bracket that was supposed to stabilize it. I called Ford and the rep was very polite & apologetic and told me that Ford stands behind recall work 100% - he gave me a case number and told me to contact an authorized dealer to have the work done and that the dealership would be reimbursed by Ford.

Got my Ford Windstar 2000 with 185000 on it. Have problem with the airbag, the horn is not working as a result. The accelerator will suddenly stop responding while on motion. The gear selection is also a problem. What is the cause of all these and what is the remedy?

I bought this 1999 Ford Windstar a couple of years ago. Hardly used it but maintained it. It is rusted in the bottom and in the sides. The power steering pump keeps messing up. My dash goes crazy. The sticks go haywire and one of my sliding doors gets stuck. I called the dealer and there's nothing that they can do about it cause it's not on recall. I had to fix transmission - cost me 500 bucks. I think there should be some type of recall on any of these things cause my car won't even pass inspection.

I have a 2000 Ford Windstar -- it wasn't getting fuel, had it towed home. Now it's in theft mode. Now dealer wants me to tow them. To charge me $138 but won't guarantee fix the theft mode. I don't think I should have to pay. It's not stolen. Any help.

Great van - I purchased 2003 Windstar at dealer van in 2012 with 111000 mi and had lots of problems due lack of maintenance. For all of you that have a complaint read!!! Check engine light with a diagnose lean bank 1 or 2 - need to change platinum gasket. This will fix problem and better mpg. Transmission - no big problems but some odd shifts due first from platinum gasket high rpm. Change oil every 30000 mi and major killer of trans is heat so install a trans cooler. Now it shifts like new. Front end noise - check bushings on torque bar un sub frame and connecting rods. That will fix noise. Dome light flickering - very simple fix - it’s in your ignition block (where insert key), just need to adjust contact. Rust wheel wells - need to spray fluid film every year under van, under doors, etc. That will eliminate rust. All vehicles have problems the first problem is their owner.

The power steering line got fixed today. It drove fine coincidentally until I hit a bump then the radio, lights, blinkers and dash lights started going nuts. We thought I knocked something loose. We stop for dinner, park... Turn the car off... all that. We head home and it was working fine at first but then the lights start going nuts and the alternator was going out within the next few minutes. Turns out the guy must've knocked the wire loose to the alternator when he was fixing the power steer line. So the whole time we drove from the shop (hour drive) we were just running on the battery & it ended up dying. Thankfully a guy in the Walmart parking lot gave us a jump & we tightened the wire on the alternator and all that. Now it's running fine.

My 2001 Ford Windstar SEL's passenger side sway bar mounting bracket (which looks like a U-Channel that is welded to the subframe) completely rusted away and then separated from the vehicle. This design flaw has rendered the vehicle extremely unsafe to drive. My FORD dealership denies any responsibility. After insisting on satisfaction, the Service Manager told they would take pictures of the sway bar and the rusted bracket and then send them to FORD Corporate. Well, FORD Corporate responded informing me that FORD will NOT pay for any of the needed repairs.

I purchased a 1996 Ford Windstar and the transmission began revving up high on the RPMs and would not go into gear. This happens everyday. We've changed the transmission, still goes on and we were told to change the (TPS) sensor, it is still happening. Now the OD will not work. The red No (OD) light continues to blink. I've noticed a great many people are having the same problem or close to it. They should recall this transmission.

My wife complained of vehicle gauges going up and down erratically a week ago. I looked online about it to find that this is almost a common thing with this year Ford Windstar 1999. Unfortunately, before I could take it in to get it repaired, the engine overheated and the head gasket gave way or the heads warped or cracked. We are unable to drive this vehicle at all now. I'm happy to take the blame of any event that I am responsible for but in this circumstance the temperature gauge failed to show the correct temperature in order to allow me to stop the van before it was too late.

My rear axle cracked while I was driving. The good news is that there was a bracket on the exact spot it broke because Ford had a recall situation with their axles doing exactly this. I had the recall done in 2011. The break happened in 2014. They would only repair it for free if the axle broke within a year of the 'repair'. I called 3 dealerships (I even sent one of the dealership's pictures) and the Ford home office as well. They all told me the same ridiculous story. So I had to shell out at over $800 for a new axle repair time.

Rear axle cracked. Under where they put the part both rear tires are tilting in at the top. Recall repair failed on my Windstar.

1999 ford windstar sel 70.000 miles - Had a transmission in the beginning. Electric doors don't work right. Brake lights don't work - had to bypass the module because FORD doesn't make it anymore. Headlights are shot - very foggy. Paint is peeling on the roof. Where are the recalls for this car. Had already at least 4 recalls. LEMON - FORD should buy them back. Very nasty on the phone. This is my last FORD. Bought a Cadillac SRX. SHAME on Ford. Can't even get 100,000 miles on this one. FORD I am done with you. After 3 problems it should have gone back. Can't wait to see what else will Happen. Use this around town only.

I have had 2 Windstars. 1 was 1998 which I drove for 9 years. It had it's typical maintenance along with a few minor issues too. My interior lights would randomly come on and stay on for periods of time. The heater blower motor died and could not defrost on winter days. I did receive the recall notice for the rear axle after I scrapped the van. My next van was the 2003. I have had this one for just over 3 years and just experienced the cracked rear axle first hand the other day. I was fortunate enough to get the van off the roadway.

My Winstar 2001 cost me over the 2 months replacing battery twice, fuel pump, spark plugs twice and changed the oil twice. fuse and took it to the service station and they said it was the starter, but found out later it was not the starter. The Gas is spurting out gas on the sparkplugs and in oil every time he try to start the car. I like my Windstar but I know it has recalls and now I was told if I take it to the dealership, they will charge me an arm and a leg. Just diagnosis it. Why is this happening to the Ford Windstar 2001s. Why buy any car if it just comes down to a problem that may cost a fire, or even death to a family. I love the room it has for hauling people. I m having a hard time to even sale it as is.

I purchased a used 1999 Ford Conversion Van with the 5.4 liter engine. Nice looking van. Engines runs very smooth. Electrical problems are door locks work when they choose to, even while driving. Up and Down! Then the starter began to grind one day. I would have to turn the key once or twice to get the starter to engage and start the van. It got progressively worse. Up to 10 turns of the key to start. So I replaced the starter. The starters would work great for about a month then start the same thing as before. At starter number 6, I began to question auto store clerks and mechanics who told me everything from plastic failing inside the gear drive body to it not lining up with the flywheel. Some said they had never heard of my problem and didn't know what to do.

So we sunk all our saving into a Ford Windstar van. Had it less than 2 months and we think the transmission went out! It'll start up, go into reverse but will not move forward! It gave absolutely no warning to this happening, no check engine light, no strange sounds, nothing! I am beyond livid! Now we have to spend 1000 dollars that we don't have to fix this van! Anyone know if I can call Ford and make them pay for these expenses!?

Well, I took my 2001 Windstar to Vallery Ford for the recall. It was a quiet van before I took it to them, but now it sounds like a big loud truck. I don’t know what they have done to make it sound like that and now it shakes real bad. I called them and they said all they did was what the recall was for, but no—they did something to it because it never shook or sound like a big load truck. I am so upset with them and Ford for making my van worse than it was. Something needs to be done. Now, my van is in worse shape than it was before the Ford recall. Ford or Vallery Ford doesn’t want to do anything about it. Is there anything that can be done?

1996 Windstar 220k miles - It blew the head gasket at 80k miles. It was properly repaired by the dealer. No other major problems other than normal wear, battery, bulbs. The A/C and cruise worked until few months ago. I hit a pothole and now have power steering leak. The only annoyance is intermittent misfire codes and check engine light. I also have a '95 Taurus Wagon 80k miles and runs like a top.

On February 4, I went to the auction place in Harvey to purchase a car (2003 Ford Windstar). I even ask question and read the information they give you so I decided to buy a van. I didn't drive it until the 7th. I was in the highway with my kids in the car. When the car keep going sideways, I decided to get out the first exit and try to make it home. Almost halfway home, I heard a breaking sound that made my van go sideways almost flipping. I decided to slowly press the brakes and stop the car without harming my babies. When I got out the car, I noticed the car back axle had broken in half which had made the tires go on one side. I had to call a flat towed truck to come and take the car to a shop. At the shop, they told me we were lucky nothing bad happen to us because there's been a lot of accidents with this vans. And that the van was a recall car and it's not suppose to be sold by law because it can cause an accident. I've been calling the auction place to get a refund but they keep putting me on hold or hanging up. They are still selling these vans at this auction place. A lot of people could really get hurt.

I bought my Ford Windstar in 1995 (first model, 3.0l V6). Since then, I had none of all these problems. In almost 17 years, I only had to change the tires, brakes, v-belt, one battery (my own fault, I kept the GPS in the plug during a 5 week holiday) and some front light bulbs. Today my WS is in the garage, because I couldn't measure the coolant. After this long time, it was almost black, but that's more than normal. Mileage is 156 k mls. It's always outside during the year, no own garage. I know, this is an exception, but because of his (yes, his) reliability I truly love this car. Greetings from Germany.

I just purchased a 2000 Ford Windstar, and despite quite a bit of research, never came across this site before.

I am a current owner to a 2001 Ford Windstar that was bought used less than 5 years ago. Have had several recalls done to it since it has been in my possession.

I took my 2002 Winstar (I am the original and only owner) to the local Ford dealership (where purchased) after receiving the recall notices about the subframe and rear axle. The van was left and the "repair kits (brackets)" installed. I was told that my van was in great condition and not effected by the recall. Subsequently, my husband was under the van for unrelated reasons and saw the passengers side subframe was rusted away with the repair kit bracket in place, supporting nothing. It is clear to see what the purpose of the bracket is if you look at the drivers side.

My 2001 Ford Windstar SEL's passenger side sway bar mounting bracket separated from the vehicle less than 30 days after recall. This has rendered the vehicle unsafe to drive and it will not pass New York State vehicle safety inspection. Ford dealership denies any responsibility and Ford, the manufacturer, will not repair as part of the recall.

I own a 2003 Ford Windstar. Over the past year, I have had the check engine light go on and off intermittently and 3 total breakdowns where the engine light was blinking and I had a loss of power. I had to be towed 3 times. One time, I was 200 miles from home and had to leave the vehicle for repair. I have had repairs done by 3 separate shops. They all got the same set of codes when they test the car and do the prescribed repairs based upon the codes. I have had coils replaced, a major tune-up and spark plugs and wires replaced 3 times in the past 7 months.

I am not generally a complainer, but enough is enough. We own a 2003 Ford Windstar. Over the past 4 years, we have replaced or have had the alternator rebuilt at least three times. The last time was a week ago. We also installed a brand new battery. The van started one time and one time only after the repairs. We also had issues with the interior lights coming on whenever we would hit a bump. My husband has turned them off completely to eliminate this issue.

We have a 2002 Ford Windstar Sport.

I owned a Ford 2003 Winstar that was recalled in October 2010. We took it to a dealer. He took our van and would not give it back! Ford said that they would give us a rental car. We asked for a van because I am handicapped. We were told that we could not have a van because we had no handicapped equipment installed in it. We then asked for something big enough to hold my wheelchair and walker. They said that they couldn't do anything but try. Ford decided what we got, a rental company. They gave us a big enough car but then told us that we could not go out of state in it and that we would have to turn this big car back in on a Monday, I think. For the small car that they were giving every one, my husband was freaking. He knew that we had to go out of state all the time and that we could not use a little car so he was forced to buy another car.

I bought a new 1995 Windstar and it was the first car/van I ever bought new. My husband directed me to buy this van because he stated that the reviews were excellent and I had two young daughters.