Ford Windstar Steering Problems
Owners have filed 682 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the Ford Windstar across 9 model years. The 1999 model year has the most (184). The words owners use most often: “rack pinion” (16% of reports).
- 682steering complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 38mention a crash
- 18mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,350typical repair cost reported by owners
- 22%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.
- Rack pinion: mentioned in 111 of 682 complaints (16%)
- Tie rod: mentioned in 68 of 682 complaints (10%)
- Steering pump: mentioned in 55 of 682 complaints (8%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical steering repair on the Ford Windstar at $1,350, and half of them between $1,050 and $1,950.
Based on 22 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (1999–2007), 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 steering problems happen?
Based on 276 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 682 complaints, 38 mention a crash, 9 a fire, 18 an injury.
Ford Windstar steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 Windstar | 40 | 3% | 97,332 |
| 2002 Windstar | 35 | 3% | 105,000 |
| 2001 Windstar | 70 | 4% | 121,938 |
| 2000 Windstar | 72 | 4% | 113,000 |
| 1999 Windstar | 184 | 12% | 67,922 |
| 1998 Windstar | 143 | 10% | 71,734 |
| 1997 Windstar | 13 | 7% | 75,172 |
| 1996 Windstar | 50 | 4% | 85,550 |
| 1995 Windstar | 75 | 2% | 70,500 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Steering:gear box:shaft sector
Model years: 1998
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles and mini-vans. The rack and pinion steering gears may have damaged input shaft bearings.
Risk: This condition can increase steering efforts, affecting steering control.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the date code on the rack and pinion steering gear, and, if necessary, replace those rack and pinion assemblies that fall within the suspect date code range. The date codes for windstar model vehicles are 97jb09 or 97jc08; the date codes for mustang model vehicles are 97j09b or 97j08b.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The rear axle on my vehicle snapped while I was driving causing me to lose control and leave the roadway. I contacted Ford who told me there was a recall for the rear axle of my vehicle and that I would have no out of pocket expenses for the repairs and the towing of the vehicle to the service…
I pulled up to a stop sign having been traveling at less then 20 mph, and only while the vehicle is in drive but not moving, it was shaking like the motor was going to jump out of the vehicle. I assumed it was the motor mount broken and took it to the mechanic and found out it was the subframe on…
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…
Driver was stalking a pedestrian.
Car was in an single car accident. Steering and body damage. All fixed now. Need verification for salvage sticker.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Windstars have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 682 owner complaints about steering 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 steering?
Yes: 1 safety recall list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix steering problems on the Ford Windstar?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,350 (half paid between $1,050 and $1,950), from 22 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about steering problems on the Ford Windstar?
The most frequent phrase is “rack pinion”, in 111 of 682 complaints, followed by “tie rod” (68).
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)
- Service Brakes problems (929)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (892)
See all Ford Windstar problems.