Ford Windstar Vehicle Speed Control Problems
Owners have filed 892 complaints with NHTSA about vehicle speed control problems on the Ford Windstar across 10 model years. The 2002 model year has the most (147). The words owners use most often: “cruise control” (32% of reports).
- 892vehicle speed control complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 54mention a crash
- 23mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $1,250typical repair cost reported by owners
- 41%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.
- Cruise control: mentioned in 288 of 892 complaints (32%)
- Brake fluid: mentioned in 134 of 892 complaints (15%)
- Deactivation switch: mentioned in 96 of 892 complaints (11%)
- Master cylinder: mentioned in 68 of 892 complaints (8%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical vehicle speed control repair on the Ford Windstar at $1,250, and half of them between $480 and $1,950.
Based on 13 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (1999–2010), 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 vehicle speed control problems happen?
Based on 509 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 892 complaints, 54 mention a crash, 94 a fire, 23 an injury.
Ford Windstar vehicle speed control complaints by model year
| Model year | Vehicle Speed Control complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Windstar | 4 | 17% | 145,500 |
| 2003 Windstar | 85 | 6% | 94,472 |
| 2002 Windstar | 147 | 11% | 92,500 |
| 2001 Windstar | 127 | 8% | 99,808 |
| 2000 Windstar | 138 | 8% | 100,000 |
| 1999 Windstar | 99 | 7% | 120,000 |
| 1998 Windstar | 73 | 5% | 99,000 |
| 1997 Windstar | 21 | 11% | 90,051 |
| 1996 Windstar | 82 | 6% | 105,000 |
| 1995 Windstar | 116 | 3% | 128,573 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Vehicle speed control
Model years: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
Problem: Ford is recalling model years 1995-2003 windstar, 2000-2003 excursion diesel, 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 f-250 sd through f-550 sd diesel, 1992-2003 e-150 through e-550, 1995-2002 explorer, 1997 and 2002 mercury mountaineer, 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 ranger, and 1994 f53 vehicles equipped with the texas instruments speed control deactivation switch (scds). The scds may leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
Risk: A vehicle fire could occur with or without the engine running.
Fix: Ford will notify owners that dealers will install a fused wiring harness in line with the scds. On 1999-2003 windstar vehicles with a leaking scds, dealers will also inspect the abs control module connector and repair as necessary. Repairs will be completed free of charge. The safety recall began on october 27, 2009. Owners may contact ford at 1-888-222-2751.
Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal
Model years: 2000, 2001
Problem: Vehicle description: minivans equipped with an adjustable pedal option. The driver floor mat could interfere with the accelerator pedal.
Risk: This can result in a stuck throttle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace both front driver and passenger side floor mats in the vehicle. Owner notification began july 6, 2001. 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 1-800-392-3673.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Manufacture Recall # 09S09 NHTSA Recall # 09V399000 Instrument cluster has become faulty. Details listed below. Overdrive (O/D) light will randomly start flashing for no reason ABS will randomly engage Parking brake light will randomly turn on Speedometer with become sporadic Transmission has…
The contact owns a 2003 Ford Windstar. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the ABS and Brake warning lights remained illuminated. Additionally, there was smoke, and a burning odor coming from the engine compartment. The contact also stated that the ABS fluid had leaked from the…
The gauges are acting crazy which causes the engine to jerk or the transmission and then it starts making the lights flicker in the interior and the gauges start sticking. It seems to make the overflow on the radiator to empty more because it is causing the sensors in the electrical for the parts…
ABS light, brake light came on. The seatbelt unhooks while Iâm driving, I was told I had a cracked axle, the wheel bearing was very noisy, Iâve paid a lot of money to get things fixed. The labor was at a ridiculous amount on $25 parts. Iâm wondering if Iâve paid to have parts fixed that…
The contact owns a 1999 Ford Windstar. The contact stated while attempting to move the vehicle up her driveway, the vehicle began to accelerate uncontrollably. The contact was able to turn off the vehicle without shifting into the park. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Windstars have vehicle speed control problems?
No. NHTSA has 892 owner complaints about vehicle speed control 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 vehicle speed control?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list vehicle speed control. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix vehicle speed control problems on the Ford Windstar?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,250 (half paid between $480 and $1,950), from 13 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about vehicle speed control problems on the Ford Windstar?
The most frequent phrase is “cruise control”, in 288 of 892 complaints, followed by “brake fluid” (134).
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)
- Steering problems (682)
See all Ford Windstar problems.