Most common 1999 Ford Windstar problems
Share of the 1,522 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 →
1999 Ford Windstar recalls (11)
Suspension › Rear › Axle › Non-powered axle assembly
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 1998-2003 Windstar vehicles manufactured September 2, 1997, to July 3, 2003. The affected vehicles were previously remedied to safeguard against the rear axle cracking from corrosion, however, the remedy brackets may have been misinstalled.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brackets to verify their proper installation. If a bracket is found to have been misinstalled, the rear axle will be replaced.
Power train › Axle assembly
Ford is recalling certain model year 1998-2003 windstar vehicles manufactured from September 1, 1997, through July 3, 2003, and currently registered or originally sold in virginia. Over time, corrosion can weaken the rear axle making it susceptible to torsional stress.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and install rear axle reinforcement brackets, or replace the axles, as necessary. This service will be performed free of charge. The recall began on June 19, 2012.
Suspension › Front › Control arm
Ford is recalling certain model year 1999-2003 windstar vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the state of virginia. Corrosion-related fractures of the front lower control arm rear attaching brackets and body mount attachments May occur.
Remedy: 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.
Suspension › Rear › Axle › Non-powered axle assembly
Ford is recalling certain model year 1998-2003 windstar vehicles manufactured from September 1, 1997, through July 3, 2003, registered in puerto rico. Due to increased stresses caused by high cycles of torsional loading, specific to this market, the rear axle can crack.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and install a reinforcement bracket on the rear axle or replace the axles, as necessary. This service will be provided free of charge. The recall began on June 1, 2012.
Structure › Frame and members › Underbody shields
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,…
Remedy: 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.
Suspension › Rear › Axle › Non-powered axle assembly
Ford is recalling certain model year 1998-2003 windstar vehicles manufactured from September 1, 1997 through February 28, 2003 and currently registered or originally sold in connecticut, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new…
Remedy: As parts become available, dealers will inspect and if necessary install the rear axle reinforcement brackets free of charge. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on October 20, 2010.
Show 5 more recalls
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…
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Motor
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.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new wiper cover with improved sealing and water resistance. Owner notification begain August 27, 2001.
Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner
Vehicle description: Mini vans equipped with auxiliary rear air-conditioning. If the auxiliary air-conditioning blower motor stops turning while in the medium-low blower speed setting, there is the potential that the resistor May become hot and smoke.
Remedy: Dealers will install a jumper wire that will ensure that the medium-low blower speed setting is protected by the thermal limiter. Owner notification began augsut 27, 2001.
Electrical system › Wiring › Interior/under dash
Vehicle description: minivans built with instrument clusters without the message center, fail to comply with the requirements of standard no. 118, "power-operated window, partition, and roof panel systems." the power windows May be operable after the ignition has been turned to the "off" position and the front doors are opened.
Remedy: Dealers will reconfigure the vehicle front end electronic module.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 8 possible defects involving the 1999 Ford Windstar:
Front Subframe Corrosion Failures
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has identified 346 complaints to ODI and Ford alleging fracture, cracking and or excessive corrosion of the front subframes in model year (MY) 1999 through 2003 Ford Windstar vehicles.Approximately 97 percent of these complaints (334) involve vehicles that have been operated in Salt Belt states, which make up approximately 60 percent of the subject vehicle sales in the…
Rear Axle Cracking
In a letter dated August 26, 2010, Ford Motor Company (Ford) submitted a Defect Information Report notifying NHTSA that it will conduct a safety recall (NHTSA Recall No. 10V-385) to address a rear axle defect in model year (MY) 1998 through 2003 Ford Windstar vehicles built at the Oakville assembly plant from September 1, 1997 through February 28, 2003 and either sold or currently registered in high corrosion…
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…
Power sliding door opening
The subject vehicles are equipped with single or dual power sliding doors (psd).approximately 111,000 vehicles have dual power sliding doors.the psd is opened by any of 5 methods, the inside or outside manual door handle, the key fob, the overhead console switch and the b-pillar switch.the door May be opened only under these conditions: ignition key is in off/accessories/on/start position, gear selector in park,…
Wheel stud fracture
Analysis of odi and Ford data has identified 1619 incidents of wheel stud fracture in my 1998 through 2000 Ford windstar vehicles, including 69 wheel separations and 11 crashes.Ford has not been able to identify any design or manufacturing defects in its analyzis of the problem.Ford maintains that the failures are caused by either:(1) inadvertent overtorquing of lug nuts during removal or installation; or (2)…
Front Subframe Corrosion Failures
In a January 26, 2011 Defect Information Report, Ford Motor Company (Ford) notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it will conduct a safety recall to address corrosion related fractures in the front lower control arm rear attaching brackets and body mount attachments at the rear of the front subframe in approximately 425,288 model year (MY) 1999 through 2003 Ford Windstar vehicles…
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…
What 1999 Ford Windstar owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 278 →
The contact owns a 1999 Ford Windstar. The contact stated while driving 5 MPH out of the driveway, the vehicle made an abnormal grinding and popping sound. The contact shifted to park(P). The contact stated that upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed that the rear passenger's side tire was pushed inward, and the axle was fractured. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that an unknown recall was closed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.
I have 3 problems with my 1999 Ford Windstar which currently has 60,000 miles. One of them is the glass in front when I'm driving in the rain I have to turn on the wipers the driver's side in the middle part of the wiper stays wet while the passenger side cleans very well. The other problem I've always had is the powersteering when I'm driving, I'm going to turn to the side and the car turns off the guide gets hard and I can't straighten it to turn it on again. The last problem is the transmission, one day the family went all together in the car and shortly after we realized that it was overheating we parked in the grass we turned off the car and the part of the engine caught fire after the accident we realized that the transmission liquefied oil. I had the transmission repaired and began to give some tiresome every time I changed gears. …
Body & structure all 276 →
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Ford Windstar. During an oil change, the contact noticed that the front subframe was rusted and corroded. There were no warning indicators. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer who stated that there was no recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V608000 (suspension); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The failure mileage was 103,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available. Updated 04/14/16 updated 05/30/18
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Ford Windstar. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 11V030000 (structure). While driving approximately 55 MPH, the steering wheel seized without warning. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the subframe fractured and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 225,000...updated 05/21/15 the consumer stated that the recall was incorrectly performed. He signed over the title. Updated 11/19/15
Brakes all 223 →
I own a Ford Windstar esl 99, yesterday the wires of the sensor of the brakes fluid burned, I was lucky to be in a tire shop and they checked and disconnected it. I was told by a mechanic the van is on recall, he has sent me different articles from the internet about Ford fires recall that includes my vehicle model. Calling Ford recall information they said VIN# doesn't shows any recall. They took the complaint that I'm asking Ford to repair it even it is not in recall as they said but it is listed in other sources, they will investigate and let me know by mail in 10-15 labor days. I will have to take my van to a Ford dealer for my safety as I can't drive it without the sensor working properly. I want to complain in order to accelerate the Ford reimburse and that they include the 99 Windstar esl in their list, as it is in others, even attorneys having lawsuits currently against Ford. …
We were pulling into a parking lot and smoke came from under the hood. I immediately shut the vehicle off and raised the hood. I am familiar with automobiles and determined that it was not oil or coolant smoke but an electrical burn in the making. I rapidly disconnected the battery and called for a tow truck and had the vehicle towed home. At the house, I reconnected the battery and nothing happened,then drove it for about 5 miles and the smoke came back. I immediately took the vehicle back to the house ( was very close) and disconnected the battery again. The smoke is coming from the ABS controller. I have done some online research and determined that there is a recall on this issue, so I called Ford. They told me that my VIN was not included. I then called the factory help line and advised them of the situation. …
1999 Ford Windstar engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 21 / 18 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 15 / 21 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: Minivan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Ford Windstar a good car?
Based on 1,522 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Windstar rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Windstar at the same age. 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 1999 Ford Windstar?
The transmission & drivetrain — 278 complaints, 18% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the body & structure (276) and brakes (223).
How many recalls does the 1999 Ford Windstar have?
There are 11 recalls for the 1999 Ford Windstar, the most recent from September 29, 2015 (non-powered axle assembly). 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 1999 Ford Windstar problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 105,000 miles; 8% 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.