Most common 1997 Ford Windstar problems
Share of the 192 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Windstar complaints by model year
Best Windstar years: 2004, 1997. Years to avoid: 1995, 1996, 1998. Compare all years →
1997 Ford Windstar recalls (5)
Vehicle speed control
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…
Remedy: 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…
Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil springs
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, and wisconsin, and in the district of…
Remedy: Dealers will install protective shields around the front coil springs. Owner notification began September 6, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive…
Exterior lighting
Vehicle description: Mini vans, light pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles. Off lease canadian vehicles equipped with daytime running lights which meet canadian requirements and not the photometric requirements of FMVSS 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." according to Ford, the vehicles were…
Remedy: Dealers will be advised to deactivate the running light function and to complete any outstanding safety recalls on these vehicles.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Master cylinder
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.
Remedy: Owners will be provided with new labels and installation instructions.
Power train › Automatic transmission
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with ax4s automatic transaxles. The low/intermediate servo cover can separate from the transaxle while the vehicle is being driven. If this occurs, transmission fluid will leak contacting the catalytic converter.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the transmission and replace these servo covers.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 6 possible defects involving the 1997 Ford Windstar:
Engine compartment fires
Odi has received 134 consumer complaints, 285 manufacturer complaints, and 137 manufacturer warranty claims alleging incidents of engine compartment fire in model year (my) 1995 thru 2003 Ford windstar vehicles.two of the odi complaints allege the fires caused structural damage to the complainant's home.of the 134 odi complaints, 36 allege the fire occurred while the vehicle was parked, 72 allege the fire occurred…
Suspension coil spring breakage
There is no summary currently available
Fuel tank cracks
There is no summary currently available
Engine compartment fires
Ea08-021 is closed with Ford's actions in recall 09v-399 recalling approximately 4.5 million vehicles equipped with texas instruments speed control deactivation switches (scds).with this recall Ford has now recalled all of the approximate 16 million Ford model vehicles that were manufactured from my 1992 through 2003 with a texas instruments scds.NHTSA will continue to monitor the recalled vehicles to ensure…
Wheel stud fracture
The subject vehicles range in age from 4?7 years in service, with average mileages estimated to range from 50 to 100 thousand miles.at these mileages, the subject wheels are likely to have been removed and reinstalled multiple times for various service procedures.odi is concerned about the high wheel separation rates in the my 1997-98 windstar vehicles equipped with aluminum alloy wheels.however, analysis of failure…
Suspension coil spring breakage
There is no summary currently available
What 1997 Ford Windstar owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 43 →
Dt*: the contact stated, while the vehicle was immobile with the engine running, smoke erupted from under the hood. The engine was immediately turned off and the vehicle was vacated. The hood was raised and flames looked as if they it was coming out of the engine compartment. The fire was extinguished and the vehicle was towed to the home of the contact. The manufacturer was alerted. There is a NHTSA recall #97V097000 pertaining to the power train:automatic transmission. The vehicle is not included in the recall due to the VIN.
Vehicle was parked and key was not in the ignition the child was able to put vehicle in drive and it rolled, hit a tree, proceeded across the street into a utility pole, the dealer was contacted and stated that this was normal.
Engine & cooling all 38 →
I turned the air conditioning on in the van and after about 10 minutes, turned it to the 'max ac' position. The hood started steaming so I turned the air completely off. After less than a minute, I noticed the hood was smoking so I pulled to the side of the road immediately. I turned the car off and exited the van and saw that the passenger side of the hood was on fire. I ran to the passenger side and opened the sliding door, and got my 18 month old and 4 year old out of the vehicle. After we were all a safe distance away I saw that most of the hood of the van was in flames. By the time the fire department arrived about 5 minutes later, the entire hood was on fire with a lot of black smoke. The entire engine compartment looks charred and partially melted. The vehicle is beyond repair. I'm thankful my children are safe but I am very concerned about the safety (failure) of this vehicle.
Failed head gasket LED to a piston rod shooting through the oil pan. Very dangerous for the cars behind me as oil was shooting over the highway. Slippery for cars following, and went on other cars paint and windshields. Head gaskets were recalled in previous 3 years of vehicles 1993-96 Ford windstars, 1997 was not on a recall even though the problem was never correctly fixed. Highly dangerous and highly irresponsible of the automaker to not include additional cars in the recall effort.
Suspension all 38 →
I have 1997 Ford Windstar. Feb. 1, 2007 I was going about 20 MPH, andpassenger front spring shattered. I had to have it towed. My mechanic saud I was lucky I was not on the expressway when it happened. I had it fixed, it cost me $1036.00. I called Ford to try and get reimbursed, and they told me that I did not have it repaired at a Ford dealer. If I had known they were bad I would have. I never received any warning at all. They did not even have me down as the registered owner. Here is the recall # 011007000, front coil spring corrosion. They said it covers from 1995-1998 windstars. Here is my VIN. #2fmda514vbd14446. All I would like is to get some of my money back, I live on $699. A month, and for them to admit I was covered. They are being really nasty about this. I was told to call by fox 6 in milwaukee, katrina cravy consumer reporter.
Have a 97 Ford Windstar all of a sudden I had a tire blow completely here to find out that the coil spring on drivers front broke and went into tire, then to find out there was a recall 2 years ago on it but was never notified of it and also a few weeks ago, van all of a sudden kept getting real hot with rolling white smoke just to find out that there was problems with the head gaskets on these windstars but yet still was never notified, this is not right, I feel we were cheated, now have a van that sits and still owe $10,000 on because I'm a family man of six and cannot afford the cost of these major repairs, I'm afraid of what might of happened if this would of blew with all my family in it on a highway, is this how the Ford company treats their consumers by lying and decieving them.
1997 Ford Windstar engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 15 / 23 / 18 |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 15 / 21 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: Minivan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Ford Windstar a good car?
Based on 192 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 Windstar rates better than average: 80% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Windstar at the same age. It is one of the best Windstar years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1997 Ford Windstar?
The transmission & drivetrain — 43 complaints, 22% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the engine & cooling (38) and suspension (38).
How many recalls does the 1997 Ford Windstar have?
There are 5 recalls for the 1997 Ford Windstar, the most recent from October 13, 2009 (vehicle speed control). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Windstar?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2004 and 1997. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995, 1996 and 1998. See the full Ford Windstar years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Ford Windstar problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 89,000 miles; 7% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.