1998 Ford Windstar Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 332 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 1998 Ford Windstar, 23% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 89,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “transmission failed” (13% of reports).
- 332power train complaints
- 89,000median miles at failure
- 11mention a crash
- 7mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $3,500typical repair cost reported by owners
- 40%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.
- Transmission failed: mentioned in 42 of 332 complaints (13%)
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 1998 Ford Windstar at $3,500, and half of them between $2,550 and $4,750.
Based on 16 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (1999–2005), 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 81 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 332 complaints, 11 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 7 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:axle assembly
Problem: Ford is recalling certain model year 1998-2003 windstar vehicles manufactured from september 1, 1997, through july 3, 2003, and currently registered or originally sold in virginia. Over time, corrosion can weaken the rear axle making it susceptible to torsional stress. Corrosion and stress can lead to cracks which, if undetected, can increase and result in a complete fracture of the axle.
Risk: A fractured axle can affect vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and install rear axle reinforcement brackets, or replace the axles, as necessary. This service will be performed free of charge. The recall began on june 19, 2012. Owners may contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Power train:automatic transmission
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with ax4s automatic transaxles. The low/intermediate servo cover can separate from the transaxle while the vehicle is being driven. If this occurs, transmission fluid will leak contacting the catalytic converter.
Risk: The catalytic converter temperature may be hot enough to ignite the transmission fluid and cause a vehicle fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the transmission and replace these servo covers.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
10/16/15 bought van. 10/30/15 stop had towed home.call dealership had towed to there place. They ran a red wire from fuse relay to inside of dashboard took over a week got it back. Not in even week later transmission start messing up told them wouldn't change gears. It went out. They didn't want to…
Rear axle extremely rusted, falling apart, still garage conditions, doesn't look safe
Tl*the contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission failed intermittently and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1998 Ford Windstars have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 332 owner complaints about power train for the 1998 Ford Windstar (23% of the 1,433 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 1998 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 89,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 1998 Ford Windstar?
Owners report a typical cost of $3,500 (half paid between $2,550 and $4,750), from 16 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 1998 Ford Windstar?
The most frequent phrase is “transmission failed”, in 42 of 332 complaints.
Other 1998 Ford Windstar problems
See all 1998 Ford Windstar problems or power train problems across all Windstar years.