2001 Ford Windstar Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 145 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2001 Ford Windstar, 9% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 106,574 miles. The words owners use most often: “rear axle” (41% of reports).
- 145power train complaints
- 106,574median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $4,950typical repair cost reported by owners
- 34%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.
- Rear axle: mentioned in 60 of 145 complaints (41%)
- Transmission failed: mentioned in 9 of 145 complaints (6%)
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 2001 Ford Windstar at $4,950, and half of them between $2,650 and $5,100.
Based on 9 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2004–2010), 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 124 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 145 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 2 a fire.
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 (1)
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Rear axle snapped in half with no warning as i was driving about 40 mph on a busy road. Very dangerous.
My vehicle was manufactured in 2001. There was a recall put out for the suspension:rear:axle:non-powered axle assembly. In 2011, according to sunset ford dealership (where i took it for axle repair and was denied) the recall was remedied in 2011. However, as stated along with the recall notice, the…
Driving home i heard a thud and my 2001 ford windstar spun off the road. Turns out the axle cracked in half and almost killed me. Towed the car into the ford dealership and even though there is an open safety recall on my windstar and ford knows of thousand of axle problems they said that it is not…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2001 Ford Windstars have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 145 owner complaints about power train for the 2001 Ford Windstar (9% of the 1,686 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 2001 Ford Windstar power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall 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 106,574 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 2001 Ford Windstar?
Owners report a typical cost of $4,950 (half paid between $2,650 and $5,100), from 9 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2001 Ford Windstar?
The most frequent phrase is “rear axle”, in 60 of 145 complaints, followed by “transmission failed” (9).
Other 2001 Ford Windstar problems
See all 2001 Ford Windstar problems or power train problems across all Windstar years.