Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Ford Windstar owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
We woke up this morning to the driver's side completely burned and melted. It had been parked sinced Monday. Fire inspector said it was definitely an electrical issue coming from the seat.
Tl contact owns a 1998 Ford Windstar. While driving approximately 50 MPH, the transmission became stuck in overdrive. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer who stated that the main control valve was defective; it was replaced. The contact later began having issues with the brakes as they locked up when the contact applied them to avoid a deer. The vehicle crashed into the woods as a result. A police report was filed. The contact sustained neck injuries. The contact was informed that the ABS tone ring seal had cracked; it was repaired. The failure continued and the dealer then replaced the tone ring and sensor. Months later, the brakes began to grab. The entire brake assembly was replaced four times. Furthermore, the contact noticed that the electrical system was defective. The switch assist in all doors was replaced in 2005. …
I was driving our 1998 Ford Windstar northwoods edition from the shopping center parking lot on 12-24-06 when the van began to smoke. The smoke came into the car as I turned on the heater. I pulled the car immediately to the side of the road and called 911. Within minutes the car was fully on fire. There were no previous problems with the car. I believe that the fire started in the right front near the dashboard,the fire came through the firewall at that point, and that is where the smoke started and the flame first came out and where the most intense damage is. Needless to say the car is totaled and we are now without a much needed vehicle. The tow truck operator stated this was the third Ford Windstar in this area to burn like this.
Dt: the vehicle had been parked for about 15 mins before it caught on fire. The doors locked, and the windshield wipers were running on their own. The fire department came and had to cut the battery cable to stop the vehicle. The keys were left inside the vehicle on the console in between the two front seats. A report was filed with the fire department. The dealer stated they had not received any reports of fires on windstars. Manufacturer was contacted, and caller filed a complaint. They will get back to him. Vehicle was totaled, and it was towed away. The caller did not know what started the fire.
While driving my 1998 Ford Windstar on the highway, I smelled smoke. I pulled to side of the road thinking at first that I had a broken fan belt or something similar. I got out of the car, opened the hood to find flames coming from the area of what I believe is the electrical wiring harness on the drivers side of the engine compartment. I used my cell phone to call for the fire department. Before the fire department arrived, a motorist stopped to assist me in putting out the fire with water.
Dt: while parked on the street, somehow in the night, an electrical fire ignited on the left passenger seat behind the driver seat located at the second electrical outlet. It was so hot it melted the car seat and paneling near the armrest. The glass didn't break but paint to outside of car is peeling off. Center and console was destroyed. The fire went out somewhere near the front. No repairs have been made.
My 1998 Windstar caught fire today. The fire appeared to start in the driver's door lock component. The entire driver's seat was destroyed, the windshield melted and cracked and the ceiling and dashboard melted. The entire van is smoke-damaged. The van had several auto-lock, instrumentation and door ajar problems which had been addressed by the dealership.
Dt*: the contact stated while traveling 10 MPH, the engine began to smoke. The vehicle was pulled over and the contact noticed a fire under the hood on the passenger side. The contact waited for the fire to extinguish itself, and then the vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not inspected by a mechanic.
While driving on highway at 65 MPH occupants started smelling smoke that was coming from the front left side of the dashboard. Within seconds of pulling off the highway vehicle caught on fire. The fire marshall couldn't find the cause of the fire because the front of the van was severely burnt....
1998 Windstar van was parked in the front yard key out of it I was inside I heard a noise looked out the engine part was on fire I was moving my personal things I lost everything I own I left everything in the van including my purse w/ my money and id inside.
NHTSA investigations
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…
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…
Electrical complaints in other Windstar years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 1998 Ford Windstar?
NHTSA has 111 complaints about the electrical system of the 1998 Ford Windstar, 8% of the model year's 1,433 complaints. The component named most often is ignition (15 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Ford Windstar electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 1998 Ford Windstar, though it has 11 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1998 Ford Windstar electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 83,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 22 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.