1998 Ford Windstar Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems
Owners have filed 177 complaints with NHTSA about service brakes, hydraulic problems on the 1998 Ford Windstar, 12% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 89,875 miles. The words owners use most often: “master cylinder” (7% of reports).
- 177service brakes, hydraulic complaints
- 89,875median miles at failure
- 15mention a crash
- 6mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,050typical repair cost reported by owners
- 30%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.
- Master cylinder: mentioned in 13 of 177 complaints (7%)
- Applying brakes: mentioned in 11 of 177 complaints (6%)
- Brake fluid: mentioned in 11 of 177 complaints (6%)
- Stopping distance: mentioned in 10 of 177 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical service brakes, hydraulic repair on the 1998 Ford Windstar at $1,050, and half of them between $1,000 and $1,350.
Based on 8 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2001–2006), 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 service brakes, hydraulic problems happen?
Based on 39 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 177 complaints, 15 mention a crash, 6 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 (1)
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.
I went to ford dealership in dec 09 received inspection on recall # o9s09 and 09so9h only. Now here in feb. 2012 the same problems with suspension,right front tire wheel makes alto of noise power steering fluid is leaking strange noise is heard when making right turns,ford said my vehicle has had…
This vehicle was part of a previous recall. All the ford dealer did was install a fusible link in the scds circuit to the abs brake unit. Since that time, the abs brakes have become inoperable and will start pulsating while driving down the road. This causes dangerous driving conditions. We request…
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 ford windstar. The contact stated that the vehicle taken to a local mechanic for inspection of the sub frame when the contact was advised that the sub frame was severely corroded and that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The contact stated that the brake lines were also…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1998 Ford Windstars have service brakes, hydraulic problems?
No. NHTSA has 177 owner complaints about service brakes, hydraulic for the 1998 Ford Windstar (12% 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 service brakes, hydraulic?
Yes: 1 safety recall 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 89,875 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix service brakes, hydraulic problems on the 1998 Ford Windstar?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,050 (half paid between $1,000 and $1,350), from 8 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about service brakes, hydraulic problems on the 1998 Ford Windstar?
The most frequent phrase is “master cylinder”, in 13 of 177 complaints, followed by “applying brakes” (11).
Other 1998 Ford Windstar problems
- Power Train problems (332)
- Suspension problems (229)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (196)
- Steering problems (143)
- Electrical System problems (111)
- Wheels problems (83)
- Structure problems (81)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (73)
See all 1998 Ford Windstar problems or service brakes, hydraulic problems across all Windstar years.