2000 Ford Windstar Structure Problems

Source: NHTSA · Updated Jun 11, 2025 · 216 complaints analyzed

Owners have filed 216 complaints with NHTSA about structure problems on the 2000 Ford Windstar, 13% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 119,235 miles. The words owners use most often: “rear axle” (31% of reports).

What owners describe

Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.

  • Rear axle: mentioned in 67 of 216 complaints (31%)
  • Sliding door: mentioned in 28 of 216 complaints (13%)
  • Sub frame: mentioned in 24 of 216 complaints (11%)
  • Control arm: mentioned in 11 of 216 complaints (5%)

How much does it cost to fix?

Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical structure repair on the 2000 Ford Windstar at $2,000, and half of them between $900 and $2,900.

Based on 6 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2005–2016), 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 structure problems happen?

Based on 151 complaints that reported the odometer reading.

Under 10k miles0 · 0%
10k–25k miles4 · 3%
25k–50k miles4 · 3%
50k–75k miles9 · 6%
75k–100k miles32 · 21%
100k–150k miles70 · 46%
150k+ miles32 · 21%

How serious are the reports?

Of 216 complaints, 5 mention a crash, 6 an injury.

Ford Windstar structure complaints by model year

Peak: 2001, with 293 complaints
1995: 991995991996: 371996371997: 8199781998: 811998811999: 27619992762000: 21620002162001: 29320012932002: 10120021012003: 12720031272004: 120041

n = 1,239 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Model yearStructure complaintsShare of that yearMedian miles
2004 Windstar14%138,869
2003 Windstar1278%116,000
2002 Windstar1017%115,678
2001 Windstar29317%116,000
2000 Windstar21613%119,235
1999 Windstar27618%120,500
1998 Windstar816%95,800
1997 Windstar84%49,000
1996 Windstar373%96,000
1995 Windstar993%125,199

When owners reported it

Peak: 2010, with 78 complaints
2000: 1320002001: 112002: 1120022003: 112004: 520042005: 32006: 420062007: 12008: 620082009: 112010: 782010782011: 282012: 720122013: 42014: 420142015: 72016: 620162017: 12018: 120182019: 32020: 12020

n = 216 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Related recalls (1)

Structure:frame and members:underbody shieldsJan 26, 2011 · NHTSA campaign 11V030000 · 425,288 vehicles

Problem: Ford is recalling certain model year 1999-2003 windstar vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, the district of columbia, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, utah, vermont, west virginia, and wisconsin. A separation of a front lower control arm rear attaching bracket may result in a lower control arm separation. A separation of both front subframe rear body mounts may result in separation of the steering intermediate shaft.

Risk: This could result in reduced steering control increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect both front lower control arm rear attaching brackets, and both body mount attachments at the rear of the front subframe, and make the necessary repairs free of charge. If repairs cannot be made to a vehicle, ford will offer to repurchase the vehicle. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before february 21, 2011. Owners may contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.

What owners report

Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.

While i was driving on the high way my rear axle broke i safety made it to the shoulder but while doing that my tire blew and left me stranded on the high way. *tr

Received May 13, 2020 · NHTSA complaint 11324389

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. While driving 15 mph and veering to the right, the contact heard a loud metal scrapping noise. The contact pulled over and noticed that the rear axle was fractured. The vehicle was towed to a friend's residence. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or…

Received Nov 1, 2019 · NHTSA complaint 11277509

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford windstar. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired per nhtsa campaign number: 11v030000 (structure); however, the recall remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The contact stated that the entire subframe should have been replaced. When the vehicle was taken to…

Received Sep 12, 2019 · NHTSA complaint 11255082
Ford Windstar
Ford Windstar photographed in College Park, Maryland , USA.. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently asked questions

Do all 2000 Ford Windstars have structure problems?

No. NHTSA has 216 owner complaints about structure for the 2000 Ford Windstar (13% of the 1,675 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 2000 Ford Windstar structure?

Yes: 1 safety recall list structure. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.

At what mileage do structure problems start?

The median reported mileage is 119,235 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.

How much does it cost to fix structure problems on the 2000 Ford Windstar?

Owners report a typical cost of $2,000 (half paid between $900 and $2,900), from 6 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.

What do owners say about structure problems on the 2000 Ford Windstar?

The most frequent phrase is “rear axle”, in 67 of 216 complaints, followed by “sliding door” (28).

Other 2000 Ford Windstar problems

See all 2000 Ford Windstar problems or structure problems across all Windstar years.