Ford Windstar Service Brakes Problems
Owners have filed 929 complaints with NHTSA about service brakes problems on the Ford Windstar across 9 model years. The 2003 model year has the most (296). The words owners use most often: “abs brake” (35% of reports).
- 929service brakes complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 14mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $1,450typical 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.
- ABS brake: mentioned in 328 of 929 complaints (35%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical service brakes repair on the Ford Windstar at $1,450, and half of them between $1,150 and $2,450.
Based on 31 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2012–2017), 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 problems happen?
Based on 788 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 929 complaints, 14 mention a crash, 5 a fire, 2 an injury.
Ford Windstar service brakes complaints by model year
| Model year | Service Brakes complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Windstar | 1 | 4% | 152,000 |
| 2003 Windstar | 296 | 20% | 105,000 |
| 2002 Windstar | 233 | 17% | 112,000 |
| 2001 Windstar | 193 | 11% | 120,000 |
| 2000 Windstar | 124 | 7% | 121,000 |
| 1999 Windstar | 72 | 5% | 137,525 |
| 1998 Windstar | 7 | 0% | 136,514 |
| 1996 Windstar | 1 | 0% | 152,000 |
| 1995 Windstar | 2 | 0% | 248,313 |
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.
When driving my muffler broke loose and was dragging on the ground. My axel creaks when I stop or sit idle at a light. When several miles from home my ignition cylinder came out. I couldn't start or turn the ignition on nor operate the steering. I'm now afraid to drive my vehicle. Since acquiring…
Abs and brake light comes on intermittently. I do not have abs function while the lights are on and it seems to happen more often in warmer weather. When vehicle is turned off it resets and doesn't come back on until driven a few miles again. According to several forums, this seems to be happening…
Going down the road traction control will go off and on . It will make the steering very hard. Then when you turn the engine off. It is very hard to start up . Some times you have to wait for about two or three hours then it will start right up. The electric system is very bad. Sometimes when the…
Red and yellow brake lights on dashboard come on and go out even when master cylinder is full of fluid.
I have my vehicle in a shop to replace the transmission. While working on the vehicle the mechanic noticed the front reservoir of the master cylinder was empty. Upon further examination, he found that the speed control sensor under the master cylinder was leaking and brake fluid is leaking on all…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Windstars have service brakes problems?
No. NHTSA has 929 owner complaints about service brakes 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?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list service brakes. 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 problems on the Ford Windstar?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,450 (half paid between $1,150 and $2,450), from 31 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about service brakes problems on the Ford Windstar?
The most frequent phrase is “abs brake”, in 328 of 929 complaints.
Other Ford Windstar problems
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (2,676)
- Power Train problems (2,595)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (2,137)
- Suspension problems (2,045)
- Electrical System problems (1,567)
- Structure problems (1,239)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (892)
- Steering problems (682)
See all Ford Windstar problems.