Ford Windstar Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems
Owners have filed 2,137 complaints with NHTSA about service brakes, hydraulic problems on the Ford Windstar across 10 model years. The 1995 model year has the most (484). The words owners use most often: “abs brake” (22% of reports).
- 2,137service brakes, hydraulic complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 109mention a crash
- 33mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $1,300typical repair cost reported by owners
- 29%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.
- ABS brake: mentioned in 477 of 2,137 complaints (22%)
- Master cylinder: mentioned in 148 of 2,137 complaints (7%)
- Braking distance: mentioned in 115 of 2,137 complaints (5%)
- Anti lock: mentioned in 107 of 2,137 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical service brakes, hydraulic repair on the Ford Windstar at $1,300, and half of them between $940 and $1,850.
Based on 73 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (1999–2013), 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 service brakes, hydraulic problems happen?
Based on 1,061 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 2,137 complaints, 109 mention a crash, 50 a fire, 33 an injury.
Ford Windstar service brakes, hydraulic complaints by model year
| Model year | Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Windstar | 2 | 8% | 83,000 |
| 2003 Windstar | 282 | 19% | 80,000 |
| 2002 Windstar | 324 | 24% | 89,340 |
| 2001 Windstar | 292 | 17% | 90,000 |
| 2000 Windstar | 204 | 12% | 93,960 |
| 1999 Windstar | 130 | 9% | 103,000 |
| 1998 Windstar | 177 | 12% | 89,875 |
| 1997 Windstar | 24 | 13% | 88,890 |
| 1996 Windstar | 218 | 16% | 85,000 |
| 1995 Windstar | 484 | 15% | 104,832 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Model years: 1995, 1996
Problem: On certain minivans originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia. During assembly, some brake lines were installed in a twisted position, causing contact with the dash panel insulator above the catalytic converter. This contact could abrade the brake line corrosion protection, consequently, salt or water absorbed in the dash panel insulator would promote corrosion. This corrosion could ultimately lead to a leak in the brake line.
Risk: Leakage of brake fluid will result in brake light activation. Extended stopping distance could also result, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the brake line for corrosion and clearance conditions. A brake line that is not corroded will be repositioned. A brake line that is corroded or leaking will be replaced with a nylon coated brake line and secured using three retaining clips to assure clearance from the insulator. Owner notification began may 10, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder
Model years: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
Problem: Vehicle description: minivans. The brake fluid master cylinder is recessed and oriented in the engine compartment so that the brake fluid warning statement embossed on both the top of the filler cap and the side of the reservoir body are not entirely visible by direct view. These vehicles may not fully comply with requirements of fmvss no. 135, "passenger car brake systems."
Fix: Owners will be provided with new labels and installation instructions.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 ford windstar. While driving 55 mph and without warning, the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard when depressed and would not stop the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the master cylinder needed to be repaired. The…
Shifted from park to drive and entered into traffic lane. Pressed down on gas pedal but all that happened was engine revved up but vehicle would not go forward. Luckily, there was light traffic or i would have been hit. A helpful person pushed me to a safe place to park. I started the car and found…
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford windstar. The contact stated that the abs warning light illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 193,000.
The abs light is on all the time, the brake light is on most of the time. Also the instrument cluster jumps erratically and the right brake light does not work. *tr
The abs light goes on in the car without any warning. *tr
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Windstars have service brakes, hydraulic problems?
No. NHTSA has 2,137 owner complaints about service brakes, hydraulic 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 service brakes, hydraulic?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list service brakes, hydraulic. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix service brakes, hydraulic problems on the Ford Windstar?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,300 (half paid between $940 and $1,850), from 73 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about service brakes, hydraulic problems on the Ford Windstar?
The most frequent phrase is “abs brake”, in 477 of 2,137 complaints, followed by “master cylinder” (148).
Other Ford Windstar problems
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (2,676)
- Power Train problems (2,595)
- 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.