Ford Windstar Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 2,676 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the Ford Windstar across 10 model years. The 1995 model year has the most (1,610). The words owners use most often: “head gasket” (44% of reports).
- 2,676engine and engine cooling complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 16mention a crash
- 13mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $3,150typical repair cost reported by owners
- 39%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.
- Head gasket: mentioned in 1,177 of 2,675 complaints (44%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine and engine cooling repair on the Ford Windstar at $3,150, and half of them between $2,050 and $6,400.
Based on 227 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (1999–2011), 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 engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 490 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 2,676 complaints, 16 mention a crash, 69 a fire, 13 an injury.
Ford Windstar engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Windstar | 1 | 4% | 86,000 |
| 2003 Windstar | 47 | 3% | 75,000 |
| 2002 Windstar | 27 | 2% | 70,000 |
| 2001 Windstar | 66 | 4% | 83,500 |
| 2000 Windstar | 92 | 5% | 52,147 |
| 1999 Windstar | 129 | 8% | 74,750 |
| 1998 Windstar | 196 | 14% | 84,000 |
| 1997 Windstar | 38 | 20% | 77,000 |
| 1996 Windstar | 470 | 34% | 80,000 |
| 1995 Windstar | 1,610 | 48% | 80,540 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine and engine cooling for the Ford Windstar. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I am the original owner of this 2001 ford windstar se minivan which now has a rusted, corroded and broken passenger side engine subframe which renders the vehicle unsafe to drive. I complied with the earlier ford recalls with regard to this issue (11s16) and the service was completed (6/20/2012) at…
While investigating the 50 mph failure of the pcm module, and the ongoing off/on action of the abs module, i ran across what appears to be a mistake on page 43-3 of the fomoco "2001 wiring diagrams/windstar" manual (fcs-12255-01). I exchanged several emails, case # cas-4648613-l1x1r6…
The abs and check engine lights went on (again, after i had numerous items repaired or replaced on this van). I went back to my mechanic who found that a part was needed, called the c1185 and is part of the abs module system. I then went to ford dealership to see if this part could be replaced, and…
The vehicle stops in the middle of traffic. It will stall out when stopped. The car will not restart. It is not anything that pertains to a tune up or oil change or transmission fluid. The radiator got low a;little but that was not the problem. There was a recall on 2003 ford windstar limited…
The abs and engine lights have been on my 2003 ford windstar for years. However, they were electrical misfires and did not affect the operation of the vehicle. It does now seem that the abs is failing. The car brakes normally at low speeds. However, over 30 mph it now seems that the brakes lock up…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Windstars have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 2,676 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the Ford Windstar. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford Windstar engine and engine cooling?
No recall currently lists engine and engine cooling for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix engine and engine cooling problems on the Ford Windstar?
Owners report a typical cost of $3,150 (half paid between $2,050 and $6,400), from 227 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the Ford Windstar?
The most frequent phrase is “head gasket”, in 1,177 of 2,675 complaints.
Other Ford Windstar problems
- Power Train problems (2,595)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (2,137)
- Suspension problems (2,045)
- Electrical System problems (1,567)
- Structure problems (1,239)
- Service Brakes problems (929)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (892)
- Steering problems (682)
See all Ford Windstar problems.