Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Ford Windstar owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
Shifted from park to drive and entered into traffic lane. Pressed down on gas pedal but all that happened was engine revved up but vehicle would not go forward. Luckily, there was light traffic or I would have been hit. A helpful person pushed me to a safe place to park. I started the car and found that only reverse worked. No forward motion when put in drive, 2 or 1. I checked transmission fluid level and it was at proper level had vehicle towed to my house. Searched online and found this is a common issue with 1999 Windstar's. Called a transmission place and told them what happened and was told I likely had suffered a transmission failure and needed a new transmission. I'm the second owner and the vehicle has approximately 125,000 miles on it. Also, the brake master cylinder failed in October 2014. Updated 03/28/16.
1999 Ford Windstar ABS malfunction - ABS and check engine lights illuminated. After skidding and striking a pole while parking, I brought this to the dealer who inspected the vehicle and described to problem as an annoyance at worst and that the vehicle's brakes work fine, the vehicle is safe to drive, and recommended not spending $1000 to fix the problem. When pressed for details, the dealer said that the ABS ECU ($1000 part) has failed but no big deal. Just the anti-lock portion of our braking wasn't working. I think this is a pretty big deal consider ABS is required for vehicle safety and the vehicle May not pass licensing inspections.
I start my 99 Ford Windstar with my wife inside the vehicle and my two daugthers and my son when I saw smoke comming true the hood then I open the hood and my surprise was the brake pressure differential deactivation switch on fire I was so scared then I just take my kids and wife out of the vehicle and comback to stop the fire thanks god I have fire extinguisher close but we have to stop this from happening to someone else.
My battery has been dying due to bad sensors, when I did get it started it became stuck high revving ,the car accelerated and smashed into the curb in front of me, and the brakes wouldn't work so even when I stepped on the brakes to put in reverse the car went flying into the curb behind me, I finally got the vehicle to a complete stop by pulling up the emergency brake. Then I had the car towed to my house.
The ABS controller for this vehicle has stopped functioning. This is a known defect with this model. The causes are either poor soldering on or damage from fluids to the controller's board. Without ABS, the vehicle is significantly less safe and I've experienced five incidents where I and my passengers narrowly escaped serious injury due to Ford's and the nhta's unwillingness to rectify this flaw.
Without warning, the brake pedal went to the floor. My daughter was unable to stop and collided with the vehicle in front of her. The brake fluid reservoir is full. The car was serviced regularly but had no recent brake work completed. I have been told that the master cylinder completely failed. The party that was struck is now claiming injury. We do not know the severity of their injuries.
I have had a lot of electrical problems with my 1999 Windstar se. The inside fan goes on when opening/closing doors, lights flicker off and on, for no apparent reason, my master cylinder leaks and I have had ABS problems. We've replaced the rack and pinion three times. I love my van, but it has a lot of problems. The horn only works on occasion which caused me to be backed into!
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Ford Windstar. While driving at approximately 40 MPH, the brake warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the rear brakes needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made award of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 104,000.
Related recalls
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.
Brake complaints in other Windstar years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 1999 Ford Windstar?
NHTSA has 223 complaints about the brakes of the 1999 Ford Windstar, 15% of the model year's 1,522 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (27 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Ford Windstar brake problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 99V-147 (master cylinder, Jun 14, 1999). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1999 Ford Windstar brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 115,000 miles, and 1% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 10 crashes, 7 fires and 3 injuries to brakes 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.