1996 Ford Windstar Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems
Owners have filed 218 complaints with NHTSA about service brakes, hydraulic problems on the 1996 Ford Windstar, 16% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 85,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “stopping distance” (10% of reports).
- 218service brakes, hydraulic complaints
- 85,000median miles at failure
- 15mention a crash
- 4mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 22%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Stopping distance: mentioned in 21 of 218 complaints (10%)
- Brake line: mentioned in 21 of 218 complaints (10%)
- Pedal went: mentioned in 21 of 218 complaints (10%)
- ABS brakes: mentioned in 19 of 218 complaints (9%)
At what mileage do service brakes, hydraulic problems happen?
Based on 28 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 218 complaints, 15 mention a crash, 6 a fire, 4 an injury.
Ford Windstar service brakes, hydraulic complaints by model year
| Model year | Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Windstar | 2 | 8% | 83,000 |
| 2003 Windstar | 282 | 19% | 80,000 |
| 2002 Windstar | 324 | 24% | 89,340 |
| 2001 Windstar | 292 | 17% | 90,000 |
| 2000 Windstar | 204 | 12% | 93,960 |
| 1999 Windstar | 130 | 9% | 103,000 |
| 1998 Windstar | 177 | 12% | 89,875 |
| 1997 Windstar | 24 | 13% | 88,890 |
| 1996 Windstar | 218 | 16% | 85,000 |
| 1995 Windstar | 484 | 15% | 104,832 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: On certain minivans originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia. During assembly, some brake lines were installed in a twisted position, causing contact with the dash panel insulator above the catalytic converter. This contact could abrade the brake line corrosion protection, consequently, salt or water absorbed in the dash panel insulator would promote corrosion. This corrosion could ultimately lead to a leak in the brake line.
Risk: Leakage of brake fluid will result in brake light activation. Extended stopping distance could also result, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the brake line for corrosion and clearance conditions. A brake line that is not corroded will be repositioned. A brake line that is corroded or leaking will be replaced with a nylon coated brake line and secured using three retaining clips to assure clearance from the insulator. Owner notification began may 10, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder
Problem: Vehicle description: minivans. The brake fluid master cylinder is recessed and oriented in the engine compartment so that the brake fluid warning statement embossed on both the top of the filler cap and the side of the reservoir body are not entirely visible by direct view. These vehicles may not fully comply with requirements of fmvss no. 135, "passenger car brake systems."
Fix: Owners will be provided with new labels and installation instructions.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Had changed brake pads a week earlier. Driving 55mph and the car crashed down on it's axle as the tire and wheel passed by us going down highway, in 37 north. Studs had all broken off. The disc brake is ruined from skidding on it. Traffic was moderately heavy. We skidded to a stop on a bridge and…
The brake & abs lights were coming on intermittently then the brakes started squeaking and eventually started at least scrubbing on the right side. Also, when you push the brake pedal down, it felt soft. This started happening again at the beginning of october of this year and the right front…
1996 ford windstar. Consumer requests a refund for money spent on repairs as a result of the problem described in a recall *tgw the consumer stated the vehicle had a brake fluid leak which damaged the abs module, closkspring and caused the cruise control not to work. The consumer stated in mid-late…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1996 Ford Windstars have service brakes, hydraulic problems?
No. NHTSA has 218 owner complaints about service brakes, hydraulic for the 1996 Ford Windstar (16% 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 service brakes, hydraulic?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list service brakes, hydraulic. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do service brakes, hydraulic problems start?
The median reported mileage is 85,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about service brakes, hydraulic problems on the 1996 Ford Windstar?
The most frequent phrase is “stopping distance”, in 21 of 218 complaints, followed by “brake line” (21).
Other 1996 Ford Windstar problems
See all 1996 Ford Windstar problems or service brakes, hydraulic problems across all Windstar years.