Ford Windstar Visibility Problems
Owners have filed 397 complaints with NHTSA about visibility problems on the Ford Windstar across 9 model years. The 1995 model year has the most (104). The words owners use most often: “windshield wipers” (12% of reports).
- 397visibility complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 7mention a crash
- 8mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 46%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.
- Windshield wipers: mentioned in 48 of 397 complaints (12%)
- Wiper motor: mentioned in 37 of 397 complaints (9%)
- Rear window: mentioned in 28 of 397 complaints (7%)
- Head gasket: mentioned in 25 of 397 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do visibility problems happen?
Based on 122 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 397 complaints, 7 mention a crash, 10 a fire, 8 an injury.
Ford Windstar visibility complaints by model year
| Model year | Visibility complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 Windstar | 18 | 1% | 91,640 |
| 2002 Windstar | 24 | 2% | 75,000 |
| 2001 Windstar | 38 | 2% | 60,000 |
| 2000 Windstar | 67 | 4% | 74,000 |
| 1999 Windstar | 60 | 4% | 87,000 |
| 1998 Windstar | 44 | 3% | 58,250 |
| 1997 Windstar | 4 | 2% | 140,000 |
| 1996 Windstar | 38 | 3% | 69,500 |
| 1995 Windstar | 104 | 3% | 101,415 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor
Model years: 1999, 2000, 2001
Problem: Vehicle description: mini vans. Contaminants such as water, salt, and windshield washer solution can enter the wiper motor cover assembly through pinholes on the exterior of the cover that are used in the molding process. In addition, on certain of the vehicles built between february and august 2000, a switch located in the plastic cover of the wiper motor gear case could malfunction and overheat. Either of these conditions could potentially result in loss of intermittent wiper function, loss of wiper park function, complete loss of wiper function, smoke, or ignition of the plastic cover material. Contaminant entry could also result in unintended wiper motor operation.
Risk: Switch malfunction is most likely to occur when the intermittent setting of the wipers is being used, or when snow or ice obstructs the blades from returning to the "parked" position at the bottom of the windshield. Loss of visibility while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install a new wiper cover with improved sealing and water resistance. Owner notification begain august 27, 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 1-866-436-7332.
Visibility:glass, side/rear
Model years: 2000
Problem: Vehicle description: mini vans. These vehicles may have been built with incorrect urethane, resulting in an adhesive bond rather than the intended molecular bond for the front windshield and rear liftgate glass.
Risk: If the bond deteriorates, it could provide less than the intended level of glass retention in the event of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the windshield and liftgate glass.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2000 Ford Windstar. The contact stated the vehicle failed to start, and the rear glass was out of the frame by about three-quarters of an inch. Additionally, the front driver's and passengerâs side windows failed to go up or roll down and were inoperable. The contact also…
Last night at approximately 8:30 pm, a pleasant evening at about 65 degrees and a light rain; for no reason whatsoever the rear quarter (automated) window exploded on the drivers side. The glass was on the inside of the vehicles back and middle seats as well as in the driveway. Because i have seen…
The brake light keeps turning on and off(abs control module problem?). The power window on passenger's side had stopped working a few years ago. *tr
We bought our van in march 2012. By april 2012 we began noticing problems with shifting. It shifts hard. The windows stopped working in may 2012. The lights on the dash for the abs and brakes are always on. The brakes are not very good and the pedal must be pushed hard to get the van to stop. Our…
Problems encountered: rear windows not working,had motors replaced worked for about 6 months then intermittent then quit working within 6 months. Abs and brake light on dash goes on and off. A/c stops blowing for about 20 seconds then resumes blowing. Keyless entry works sometimes,sometimes it…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Windstars have visibility problems?
No. NHTSA has 397 owner complaints about visibility 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 visibility?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list visibility. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about visibility problems on the Ford Windstar?
The most frequent phrase is “windshield wipers”, in 48 of 397 complaints, followed by “wiper motor” (37).
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.