1996 Ford Windstar Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 322 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 1996 Ford Windstar, 23% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 72,000 miles.
- 322power train complaints
- 72,000median miles at failure
- 6mention a crash
- 5mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $1,650typical repair cost reported by owners
- 38%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the 1996 Ford Windstar at $1,650, and half of them between $1,000 and $3,750.
Based on 20 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (1998–2003), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 31 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 322 complaints, 6 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 5 an injury.
Ford Windstar power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Windstar | 7 | 29% | 122,414 |
| 2003 Windstar | 225 | 15% | 102,000 |
| 2002 Windstar | 97 | 7% | 113,200 |
| 2001 Windstar | 145 | 9% | 106,574 |
| 2000 Windstar | 271 | 16% | 86,175 |
| 1999 Windstar | 278 | 18% | 74,250 |
| 1998 Windstar | 332 | 23% | 89,000 |
| 1997 Windstar | 43 | 22% | 146,000 |
| 1996 Windstar | 322 | 23% | 72,000 |
| 1995 Windstar | 875 | 26% | 93,672 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)
Problem: The park pawl abutment bracket has a sharp edge which can cause the parking pawl to hang up and not engage the park gear. This would allow the vehicle to move even though the gear shift indicator shows that the vehicle is in park.
Risk: Unintended and unexpected vehicle movement can result in personal injury and property damage.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the park pawl abutment bracket.
Power train:automatic transmission
Problem: The park pawl shaft was improperly positioned when the roll pin that retains it was installed during transmission assembly. If the shaft was not properly positioned, the roll pin may not have lined up with the groove in the shaft and have been crushed at assembly. Also, a burr could have been raised on the shaft.
Risk: This could result in the park pawl occasionally not engaging when the transmission selector lever is placed in the park position. This could result in the vehicle rolling as if in neutral if the vehicle operator does not apply the parking brake.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the park pawl shaft roll pin. If the roll pin is damaged, both the roll pin and the park pawl shaft will be replaced. In addition, owners will be reminded to fully apply the parking brake, in addition to placing the transmission in park.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 ford windstar. While at a stop light, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to accelerate above 20 mph. The service brake warning indicator illuminated. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it…
This is a second call for help ford corporate will not email me back. Will not verify if pcm has been updated. The van only has under 59,000 miles on it . It should not break this bad this soon makes me tell anyone on social media and our local news media and clark howards team. I do not want to…
Dear ford my mother and i have been trying to get answers from the dealer and since they gave up. Because they could not fix it right the first time. Even the second or third time. The van a 1996 windstar with 59,000 miles on it and it started the engine started stalling, when making slow turns not…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1996 Ford Windstars have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 322 owner complaints about power train for the 1996 Ford Windstar (23% of the 1,386 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Ford Windstar power train?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 72,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 1996 Ford Windstar?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,650 (half paid between $1,000 and $3,750), from 20 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
Other 1996 Ford Windstar problems
See all 1996 Ford Windstar problems or power train problems across all Windstar years.