Ford Windstar Structure Problems
Owners have filed 1,239 complaints with NHTSA about structure problems on the Ford Windstar across 10 model years. The 2001 model year has the most (293). The words owners use most often: “rear axle” (20% of reports).
- 1,239structure complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 27mention a crash
- 30mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $1,850typical repair cost reported by owners
- 21%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 252 of 1,239 complaints (20%)
- Sub frame: mentioned in 170 of 1,239 complaints (14%)
- Sliding door: mentioned in 112 of 1,239 complaints (9%)
- Front subframe: mentioned in 67 of 1,239 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical structure repair on the Ford Windstar at $1,850, and half of them between $1,350 and $2,700.
Based on 56 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2000–2016), 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 802 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 1,239 complaints, 27 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 30 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 (2)
Structure:frame and members:underbody shields
Model years: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
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.
Structure:body:hood
Model years: 1995, 1996
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles and mini vans. Tearing of the bond between the inner and outer hood panels during minor front end collisions can result in a gap at the leading edge of the hood. Air forced between the inner and outer panels can produce enough pressure to force the outer panel upward.
Risk: This condition can result in total separation of the outer hood panel.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the hood area for any damage along the leading edge of the hood. If there is any evidence of bond separation, the hood will be replaced. If there is no evidence of bond separation, additional adhesive will be applied between the inner and outer hood panels.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10-20 MPH, the steering wheel was shaking abnormally. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V030000 (Structure). The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The contact…
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Windstar. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 11V030000 (STRUCTURE) and 15V608000 (SUSPENSION). The contact stated that while approaching a traffic signal and driving slowly, the vehicle shook, and the engine shifted. The contact stated that…
Axle broke on rt side just underneath the bracket that ford installed for recall.i was only going 10mph when it happened no warning I was able to gain control and stop was towed into a shop not driveable if this seems to be a problem mine looked fine they must filled it up with expand foam I would…
The contactâs son owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V030000 (Structure). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent…
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Windstars have structure problems?
No. NHTSA has 1,239 owner complaints about structure 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 structure?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list structure. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix structure problems on the Ford Windstar?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,850 (half paid between $1,350 and $2,700), from 56 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about structure problems on the Ford Windstar?
The most frequent phrase is “rear axle”, in 252 of 1,239 complaints, followed by “sub frame” (170).
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)
- Service Brakes problems (929)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (892)
- Steering problems (682)
See all Ford Windstar problems.