1999 Ford Windstar Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 209 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 1999 Ford Windstar, 14% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 101,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “cruise control” (13% of reports).
- 209electrical system complaints
- 101,000median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $930typical repair cost reported by owners
- 36%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.
- Cruise control: mentioned in 27 of 209 complaints (13%)
- Speedometer odometer: mentioned in 13 of 209 complaints (6%)
- Master cylinder: mentioned in 13 of 209 complaints (6%)
- Brake fluid: mentioned in 11 of 209 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical electrical system repair on the 1999 Ford Windstar at $930, and half of them between $620 and $1,100.
Based on 6 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2006–2011), 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 electrical system problems happen?
Based on 113 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 209 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 26 a fire, 2 an injury.
Ford Windstar electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Windstar | 3 | 13% | 140,500 |
| 2003 Windstar | 280 | 19% | 100,000 |
| 2002 Windstar | 261 | 19% | 100,000 |
| 2001 Windstar | 223 | 13% | 98,000 |
| 2000 Windstar | 222 | 13% | 111,009 |
| 1999 Windstar | 209 | 14% | 101,000 |
| 1998 Windstar | 111 | 8% | 82,409 |
| 1997 Windstar | 7 | 4% | 135,000 |
| 1996 Windstar | 83 | 6% | 91,623 |
| 1995 Windstar | 168 | 5% | 137,145 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system:wiring:interior/under dash
Problem: Vehicle description: minivans built with instrument clusters without the message center, fail to comply with the requirements of standard no. 118, "power-operated window, partition, and roof panel systems." the power windows may be operable after the ignition has been turned to the "off" position and the front doors are opened.
Risk: The standard requires that power operated windows may be closed only when the key is in the "on," "start," or "accessory" positions, or during the interval between the time the key is turned off, and the opening of either of the vehicle's front doors.
Fix: Dealers will reconfigure the vehicle front end electronic module.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
If my vehicle is not used for a few days (3 to 4 days), when I start the vehicle, all the needles of the instrument cluster oscillate violently between extremes. However, this does not affect drivability and I can slowly move the car out of my driveway and get on the street. About 30 to 45 seconds…
This was my mothers . Now mine the speed odometer just goes every where sometimes it doesn't move at all. And it does it does show the right speed all the instrument panel does the same . And when that started the windows stop working too. Any more nor the radio. They said its a main control…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THEN TURNED DARK. AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. KLABEN FORD LINCOLN OF WARREN, INC (I3853 YOUNGSTOWN RD SE, WARREN, OH 44484, [redacted]) STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM MAY…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1999 Ford Windstars have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 209 owner complaints about electrical system for the 1999 Ford Windstar (14% of the 1,522 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 1999 Ford Windstar electrical system?
Yes: 1 safety recall list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do electrical system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 101,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix electrical system problems on the 1999 Ford Windstar?
Owners report a typical cost of $930 (half paid between $620 and $1,100), from 6 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 1999 Ford Windstar?
The most frequent phrase is “cruise control”, in 27 of 209 complaints, followed by “speedometer odometer” (13).
Other 1999 Ford Windstar problems
See all 1999 Ford Windstar problems or electrical system problems across all Windstar years.