2001 Ford Windstar Structure Problems
Owners have filed 293 complaints with NHTSA about structure problems on the 2001 Ford Windstar, 17% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 116,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “rear axle” (20% of reports).
- 293structure complaints
- 116,000median miles at failure
- 8mention a crash
- 7mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $3,000typical repair cost reported by owners
- 23%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 59 of 293 complaints (20%)
- Sub frame: mentioned in 53 of 293 complaints (18%)
- Control arm: mentioned in 26 of 293 complaints (9%)
- Front subframe: mentioned in 25 of 293 complaints (9%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical structure repair on the 2001 Ford Windstar at $3,000, and half of them between $1,550 and $3,150.
Based on 16 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2004–2012), 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 232 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 293 complaints, 8 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 7 an injury.
Ford Windstar structure complaints by model year
| Model year | Structure complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Windstar | 1 | 4% | 138,869 |
| 2003 Windstar | 127 | 8% | 116,000 |
| 2002 Windstar | 101 | 7% | 115,678 |
| 2001 Windstar | 293 | 17% | 116,000 |
| 2000 Windstar | 216 | 13% | 119,235 |
| 1999 Windstar | 276 | 18% | 120,500 |
| 1998 Windstar | 81 | 6% | 95,800 |
| 1997 Windstar | 8 | 4% | 49,000 |
| 1996 Windstar | 37 | 3% | 96,000 |
| 1995 Windstar | 99 | 3% | 125,199 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Structure:frame and members:underbody shields
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.
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the brake pedal, the front end of the vehicle made abnormal sounds. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that there was a fracture due to corrosion on the…
Rear axle cracked in multiple locations causes car to sway and tires to turn inward and bald
The contact's husband owns a 2001 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while in reverse, she heard an abnormal noise. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the control arm was cracked. The contact was then informed by the…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2001 Ford Windstars have structure problems?
No. NHTSA has 293 owner complaints about structure for the 2001 Ford Windstar (17% 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 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 116,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix structure problems on the 2001 Ford Windstar?
Owners report a typical cost of $3,000 (half paid between $1,550 and $3,150), from 16 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about structure problems on the 2001 Ford Windstar?
The most frequent phrase is “rear axle”, in 59 of 293 complaints, followed by “sub frame” (53).
Other 2001 Ford Windstar problems
See all 2001 Ford Windstar problems or structure problems across all Windstar years.